Security alert at US embassy in Dublin

The US embassy in Dublin was evacuated this morning after the discovery of a suspect package.

The US embassy in Dublin was evacuated this morning after the discovery of a suspect package.

The Army bomb disposal team attended the scene and declared the suspect device to be a hoax bomb.

The package was detected during routine scanning of post at the embassy in Ballsbridge this morning.

The Army's Explosives Ordinance disposal team were called and after examination of the A4-size envelope declared the suspect package and "elaborate hoax".

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A fire cracker inserted into a piece of marzipan was found in the envelope. The package was intended to cause maximum alarm - plastic explosive smells like marzipan, an Army source said.

The Garda were also in attendance and have declared the alert over.