Army bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion on a device discovered in Dundalk last night. Many people were evacuated from their homes near the Greenacres shopping centre when the device was discovered at 7.20 p.m. by schoolchildren. The device was neutralised by the controlled explosion at 11.15 p.m.
Gardai described the device, which was in a gas cylinder, as very sophisticated and capable of causing death or serious injury. The Army is to carry out a detailed examination of the bombing mechanism today.
Other areas of Dundalk also suffered serious disruption last night after bomb warnings from a loyalist paramilitary group were received just after 6 p.m. A section of the Dunleer bypass was sealed off when a further bomb warning was received at 9.26 p.m.
Callers claiming to be from the Loyalist Volunteer Force phoned a warning to Belfast newsrooms, using a recognised code word.
Four devices had been planted in and around the town, the warning said. Two were close to the town centre, one was on the railway line between Dundalk and Dublin, and another had been abandoned on the N1 close to the Border. The Belfast-Dublin train was halted and passengers taken by bus to Dublin.
Security sources in Dundalk expressed renewed concern that the LVF might be planning a pre-Christmas campaign.