Police attacked during Belfast bomb alert

Police came under attack during a bomb alert in West Belfast today.

Police came under attack during a bomb alert in West Belfast today.

Officers were pelted with stones and petrol bombs as army explosives experts were called in to deal with what was described as a viable device.

Trouble flared during the alert at Springbank Close in the city's Poleglass district.

A number of families had to be evacuated from their homes while British Amry troops carried out examinations on the object found.

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Although it did not contain any explosives, a PSNI spokeswoman later confirmed that all the other parts needed to make up a potentially dangerous device were contained. The device has been taken away for further forensic examinations.

In an effort to restore calm, police liaised with local community representatives. Public transport was also diverted away from the surrounding roads until the disturbances were brought to a halt.