Police attacked during Lurgan alert
A blast bomb and a number of petrol bombs have been thrown at police officers attending an ongoing security alert in Lurgan, Co Armagh.
Riot police were called in after trouble erupted during the alert in Lake Street.
Around 15 homes were evacuated after a suspicious object was found outside a derelict house in the early hours of Monday morning.
The devices were thrown at police as army bomb experts carried out a controlled explosion on the object.
Lake Street and a section of the Antrim Road remain closed.
Train services between Belfast and Dublin were also severely disrupted on Monday morning.
Translink said the line has now re-opened and normal service have resumed.
Earlier this month, a pipe bomb was thrown at Lurgan police station and a deliberate hoax was left near the building in two separate incidents.
SDLP Upper Bann MLA Dolores Kelly said local people are angry after the latest security alert brought the town to a “standstill”.
“Those responsible for planting this device have absolutely no respect for the people of this area.
“They have brought this town to a standstill preventing children from getting to school and people from going about their daily routine,” she said.
“Businesses have also been delayed from trading and people obstructed from getting to work. This town does not need any further setbacks particularly in the current economic recession.
“I would urge anyone with information on this device, or any other suspicious activity, to pass it onto the police as soon as possible,” she added.
Sinn Fein MLA John O’ Dowd called for an end to the ongoing bomb alerts in the area.
“In recent weeks pipe bombs have been found in the area and a series of bomb hoaxes have brought misery and fear to the local community”, Mr O’Dowd said.
“The people of North Lurgan deserve to be left in peace they suffered greatly during the conflict and have shown their support for the peace process time and time again through the ballot box.
“Those behind these attacks need to listen to the community and move beyond the mindset of conflict.”
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