Viable pipe-bomb found in East Belfast security alert

Q Newsdesk

A viable pipe-bomb has been discovered during a security alert in East Belfast.

The device was found in the front garden of a house in the Sandbrook Grove area of Sydenham yesterday afternoon.

Police say the device has now been made safe, and has been taken away for further examination.

The alert ended last night and evacuated residents were allowed to return to their homes.
 

East Belfast MLA Andy Allen MBE said:

“Once again a community has been disrupted and local people inconvenienced because somebody thought it was a good idea to leave an explosive device in the garden of a house."

“Today it was the turn of the people of Sandbrook Grove area of Sydenham in East Belfast to have their daily routine turned upside down, and caused great distress because of the reckless actions of cowards who didn’t care that any passer-by could have been injured or worse by this device."

“There is no justification whatsoever for this type of activity and people in every part of Northern Ireland – including East Belfast – should be able to live free from fear of having their daily lives impacted by these criminals and their activities."