Explosive device found in airport car
Police have urged people in Northern Ireland to be vigilant after two explosive devices were found in counties Antrim and Armagh.
An explosive and suspected flammable liquid was found in a car at the centre of a security alert in the grounds of Belfast International Airport.
Police said airport staff spotted the suspicious vehicle in the long stay car park at around 2.30pm on Saturday. It has been removed for further forensic tests.
The alert ended at around 2am on Sunday morning.
Flights were not affected by the incident.
On Saturday, Belfast International Airport spokesman Uel Hoey said the airport remained “fully operational”.
“Approach roads are clear. Passengers flows are fine and the flights have been coming and going to schedule”, he told UTV.
Passengers, who were unable to access their vehicles in the car park during the operation, can now do so.
Detectives have appealed for anyone who noticed a grey coloured Toyota Carina carrying the registration number PDZ 2001 in the long stay car park at the airport to contact them.
Northern Ireland Justice Minister David Ford said he was “absolutely appalled” by the incident.
The Alliance MLA added: “This type of incident send out a very negative message at a time when it’s essential that we attract more businesses and tourists here. This is exactly the type of news Northern Ireland needs to avoid.”
A device containing over 40kg of explosives in a beer keg was also made safe in Lurgan, Co Armagh.
“In recent days police have stepped up their measures to counter the threat posed by misguided individuals and groups who seek to drag the country back to mayhem and misery”, ACC McCausland added.
“Our efforts will continue and we would ask everyone in the community to be vigilant about their surroundings as they go about their daily business.
“A united response to the evil intentions of terrorist groups will help reduce the threat which they pose.”
However, a PSNI spokeswoman said the alert at the airport did not bear any “similarities” to a major international terror alert which began after printer cartridges with wires attached were found in cargo hubs at East Midlands Airport in the UK and Dubai on Friday.
On Saturday Home Secretary Teresa May said the explosive device found in the UK could have blown a plane out of the sky.
The bomb was “viable” and the target may have been the aircraft itself, Ms May said following a Cobra meeting of the UK Government’s emergency planning committee to discuss the security situation.
The finds have been linked to al Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), based in Yemen, the same organisation that claimed responsibility for the Christmas Day attempt last year.
