Lisburn security alert linked to ‘criminal activity’

A security alert in Lisburn on Thursday morning is thought to be linked to “criminal activity,” local representatives have said.
Army technical robot at scene of suspect device in Lisburn's Glenmore Park. Photo: Presseye /Stephen HamiltonArmy technical robot at scene of suspect device in Lisburn's Glenmore Park. Photo: Presseye /Stephen Hamilton
Army technical robot at scene of suspect device in Lisburn's Glenmore Park. Photo: Presseye /Stephen Hamilton

Police said they began evacuating a number of residents after receiving a report of a suspicious object in the Glenmore Park area of Hilden around 6.40am.

PSNI officers established a cordon around the apartment at the centre of the alert and the ATO bomb disposal team was tasked to attend.

Pat Catney MLA lives close to the scene.

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He said some local residents have reported some “incidents” around the apartment which he believes has now been vacated.

“Early this morning at about half past eight I saw the two white bomb disposal vans going up the main road.

“I was shocked to see them as I though they had left the vicinity twenty-odd years ago,” he said.

“This is a very settled community. This is a mixed area...with great community relations,” the SDLP representative told Q Radio news.

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DUP councillor Jonathan Craig also described the Glenmore community as “incredibly settled, and an area where “people live extremely well together”.

He said: “For the past 20 years there haven’t been incidents like this.

“We do all believe that [the security alert] has something to do with criminal activity. And that is regrettable – that this has moved into this very settled community.

“The people in Glenmore are extremely shocked at what has happened here.

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“Thankfully it has been a hoax device and no one’s life was actually put in danger, but the inconvenience that people have been put through here is unbelievable.”

The council-owned Glenmore Activity Centre was opened to accommodate evacuated residents.

Cllr Craig added: “People were moved out of their own homes in the early hours of the morning.

“I’ve been round speaking with them and they are being looked after, but some of them weren’t even able to change out of their night clothes.

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“It is just unacceptable. If there is anybody who knows anything about this incident at, and what has happened here, please pass that information on to the police.

“They need you assistance to try to bring these people to justice.”

Shortly after 2pm the PSNI said the suspicious object had been examined and was found to be an “elaborate hoax”.

Superintendent Mullan said: “We would appeal to anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the area...to contact police on 101 quoting reference number 203 17/12/20.”