OFFICERS IN NORTHERN Ireland found what they described as a “substantial viable device” in north Belfast today.
Army technical officers carried out a clearance operation in the Jamaica Street area and made the bomb safe this afternoon.
Condemning those responsible for planting the device, Chief Inspector Andrew Freeburn said, “Once again the community of north Belfast has been disrupted and the lives of residents put at risk by an element intent on causing as much loss of life and disruption as they can.”
“The people who carried this out showed a callous disregard for the lives of everyone in our community. This is a residential area and we could have been looking at serious tragedy here.
There is absolutely no doubt that this device was intended to murder.
Freeburn added that he was sure the wider public would be “just as angry” about the discovery today.
“They have every right to be outraged. However what we need now is information about who left the device there in the first place. I would call on anyone who has any information that could assist police with their enquiries to call Detectives in Tennent Street on 0845 600 8000.”
Information can also be passed anonymously to the charity Crimestoppers number on 0800 555 111.
The security alert has now ended and evacuated residents have been allowed to return to their homes.
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