Two arrested over hoax van bomb at border are released
Two men arrested in connection with an elaborate bomb hoax in a border village have been released unconditionally.
Police arrested the two men, aged 28 and 34, in Derry after a suspect van was found on a bridge spanning the border with Donegal at Clady in Co Tyrone.
A caller to police claimed the van contained a 600lb bomb.
Army technical officers declared an “elaborate hoax” more than 24 hours after the alert was first raised.
The van, which was discovered on Wednesday evening, caused huge disruption to cross-border traffic and resulted in half the village of Clady being sealed off.
Inishowen senator Cecilia Keaveney said the Clady incident and others like it made it clear that the Republic’s bomb disposal team should be based in Co Donegal.
The team, which had been based at Finner camp in Bundoran, was moved out of the county recently.
However, the Republic’s defence minister, Willie O’Dea, turned down her request. He said the team remained on call 24 hours daily.
Police in Northern Ireland also rejected criticism of the way in which they handled the Clady incident following claims that the security alert was allowed to continue too long.
Chief Superintendent Phil Marshall said: “Any response to incidents where there is the potential for serious injury must be well thought out and appropriate.”
Meanwhile, a security alert in Maghera, Co Derry, has also been declared a hoax.
The suspicious object was discovered at Sunnyside Park by a resident who carried it to a disused school which he believed was a safer area.
A police spokeswoman said British army technical officers had dealt with the device which was declared a hoax.
She reminded the public not to touch any suspicious objects but to contact police immediately.
