Skip to content

Security alert in Strabane declared a hoax

Pacemaker A police officer is standing in front of a police car. They are wearing full uniform including a hat. The background is a black road, footpath and crash barrier. There are houses and trees visible. Pacemaker
The suspicious device was discovered at Evish Square, Strabane

A security alert in which a number of homes were evacuated in Strabane, County Tyrone, has ended and been declared a hoax.

A suspect device was found at Evish Square shortly after 09:00 BST on Tuesday.

Army bomb disposal experts examined the device and later declared it a hoax.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said cordons that had been put in place at the junction of Mount Carmel Heights with Newtownkennedy Street have been lifted and all roads closed earlier on Tuesday are now open.

A PSNI spokeswoman said police were grateful to the public for their "understanding and co-operation", especially those directly affected by the alert.

"We know there was disruption and inconvenience but, please be reassured, when these type of incidents are reported to us, we investigate thoroughly as public safety is of paramount importance," she added.

Melvin Sports complex had been made available for those who had to leave their homes.

a police car is parked in front of a police cordon. a number of homes can be seen in the background, as can a number of parked cars
A number of cordons have now been lifted

Speaking earlier on Tuesday to BBC Radio Foyle, SDLP assembly member for West Tyrone Daniel McCrossan said the device had been discovered in an area where about 1,000 people live.

He said the alert had blocked off the only exit and entrance to a number of housing developments.

"It is intolerable and unjustifiable," he said.

"Parents cannot get out of their homes to lift their children from school, people cannot return to their homes, carers cannot get to the sick, disabled and vulnerable."

He said people in the area were "outraged".

"They don't want this disruption in their lives, they do not want their children to hear about this, to ask questions about it," he said.

Sinn Féin councillor Brian Harte told BBC News NI "the whole area has been locked down".

"People are angry, angry that their daily activities have been interrupted. It is totally unacceptable. People don't want this type of activity in Strabane. We are past all of that," he said.

A man in a sports top is standing at a police cordon. The police car is blue, white and yellow.
Independent councillor Jason Barr

'Angry and disgusted'

Independent councillor Jason Barr said local people were "really angry" and "disgusted" by the disruption.

He said it was the third serious incident in the area in the last three years and people were deeply upset and concerned.

On one previous occasion, police officers escaped serious injury when a device was thrown at their patrol car.