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Bank bomb in Newry defused by army squad

Two masked men entered a branch of Santander bank, dropped the device and issued threats before escaping.

Updated 18.20pm

A VIABLE EXPLOSIVE device left by masked men in a bank in Newry, Co Down, has been defused by army officers.

The PSNI have confirmed that the two men walked into a building this morning with their faces covered and dropped a bag, before making off. According to RTÉ, the men issued a warning that a device would explode in 45 minutes at the town’s Santander bank.

Police cordoned off the town’s Margaret Square, along with the areas around Hill Street and Market Street, forcing dozens of businesses to shut their doors. An army technical squad was called in to deal with the device.

PSNI Chief Inspector David Beck this afternoon confirmed that the bomb was “a viable device capable of causing death, serious injury and damage to the area.” He also expressed his gratitude to the army officers for preventing the device from detonating.

Local MLA Dominic Bradley has told UTV the alert bears “all the hallmarks of dissident IRA activity”, adding: “The people of Newry are very angry the commercial life of Newry is being disrupted.” The PSNI are appealing for anyone with information to call Newry CID or Crimestoppers.

There was also a second security alert after a suspicious package was discovered in Ballymoney, Co Antrim this morning. The town’s Ozone Avenue and Meeting House Street were cordoned off.

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    Mute ecrowley ecrowley
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    Feb 6th 2024, 5:25 PM

    €3b on meds. In this instance, fair play hse. Lots of countries wouldn’t spend that kinda money to help a small minority of patients.

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    Mute Kathleen Peters
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    Feb 6th 2024, 5:29 PM

    It’s great talking about it,but will the people on medical cards be actually given it,I’ve 6 different autoimmunes and I’m on 28 tablets a day,and in the last 6 months,I’ve not got medication that’s not the generic one,they do not work as good as the proper ones,especially the 1s that I take 3 times a day,until they were changed,I had a better quality of life,and had the symptons under control,I can understand they giving the cheaper make to cut costs,but because I’ve a medical card,I’ve to take what I’m giving,When u have any autoimmunes they are so hard to treat,because mine came from some kind of virus in January 2018,because it went into the brain,that’s what caused all the autoimmunes,I gave almost 2 years in constant pain,so many autoimmunes u can’t see,mental health is so bad aswell

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    Mute James Carolan
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    Feb 6th 2024, 7:19 PM

    @Kathleen Peters: Generics contain the same active ingredient as the branded meds. They work exactly the same and are regulated the same by the HPRA for use in Ireland. Ask any doctor or pharmacist. You are letting your mind think that they are not as effective.

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    Mute Sun Rise
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    Feb 6th 2024, 9:19 PM

    It takes a right wagon to whinge about the free medication they receive via the medical card scheme. Entitled moaner.

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    Mute michael graham
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    Feb 6th 2024, 9:46 PM

    @Sun Rise: horrible comment

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    Mute Regular John
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    Feb 6th 2024, 11:29 PM

    @Sun Rise:
    What an absolute prîçk you are. Shame on you.

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    Mute alan scott
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    Feb 7th 2024, 5:34 PM

    @Sun Rise: free medication you say? when healthcare should be about need and not how deep your pocket is.

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    Mute alan scott
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    Feb 7th 2024, 5:38 PM

    @Sun Rise: And for your information the HSE is a system paid for by the taxpayer. It’s not free by your assertion

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    Mute Emer Daly
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    Feb 6th 2024, 7:16 PM

    So you’re telling me there are life saving drugs that could have saved lives before are only being used now. My heart sank after reading this.

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    Mute James Carolan
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    Feb 6th 2024, 7:21 PM

    @Emer Daly: They have been in use since they were approved by the HPRA. The HSE may not have been giving them for free to people on medical cards because of the cost.

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