AN INVESTIGATION IS underway after a viable homemade explosive device was found in a Mullingar housing estate in the early hours of this morning.
The Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was discovered at a residential area in Ardilaun in Westmeath.
An Army bomb disposal team arrived on the scene at 3am and a number of houses in the area were evacuated. Traffic restrictions and a cordon were also put in place for public safety, the Defence Forces said.
The suspect object was brought to a safe military location for further tests to be carried out. It was later determined to have been viable.
The scene was declared safe at 4am and people were able to return to their homes.
It was the fifth call-out for the Army bomb disposal squad so far this year but the first viable device to be found.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say