MYSTERY last night surrounded the discovery of two pipe bomb-type objects hidden at the back of a doctor's surgery in the middle of built-up west Belfast.
The 20-inch cylinders wrapped in cling film were found inside a heating flue at Crocus Street Surgery off the Springfield Road.
It is believed a staff member and an engineer, who had been called to investigate a blockage in the heating system, made the discovery.
There was anger as patients were turned away for appointments at the surgery and at the nearby Springfield Medical Centre during a major security alert.
Residents living in Crocus Street, Springfield Road and Hawthorn Street were also forced from the homes for several hours as British army bomb disposal experts were called in to investigate.
The discovery was made in an air vent at the back of the surgery and it is understood the engineer and surgery employee pulled the objects out of the flue without realising what they were handling.
The cylinders, wrapped in cling film, were described as around 20ins in length and 2lb in weight each.
The vent can be accessed through a grill from an alleyway at the back of the surgery.
There was speculation last night the cylinders had been stored in the vent to be used in a pipe bomb attack, possibly on a passing police patrol.
An eye-witness said the engineer innocently put his hand into the vent.
"He was in doing work on the heating system and put his hand in and brought the pipe bombs out," he said.
The PSNI last night said two suspicious objects had been examined by army technical officers but were not thought to have been viable devices.
However, a police spokesman added that the objects had been taken away for further examination.
There was major disruption in the area for several hours during the alert as the two surgeries on the Springfield Road were closed.
Patients continued to arrive throughout yesterday afternoon to attend appointments and collect prescriptions.
Written signs informing patients that the surgeries were "closed due to a security alert" were pinned to the front doors.
Residents who were evacuated from their homes were offered shelter at Divis community centre and Grosvenor recreation centre.
One woman who lives in Crocus Street said: "The police came battering the door to ask us to leave.
"They said some sort of devices had been found at the back of the surgery. I'm waiting on a lift to get away with the kids while it's all going on."
SDLP councillor Colin Keenan last night said it was the fifth time in 18 months that the area had been at the centre of a major police investigation.
He said the security alert followed a shooting at a nearby bar, the discovery of a rocket-propelled grenade, a petrol bomb attack on a house and drugs being found on the street by children.
Mr Keenan said people were shocked to learn of the sinister devices and angry at the disruption caused.
"In my opinion this wasn't the final resting places for these devices but I am thankful there was no loss of life."
* ANGER: Left and above, patients at two doctors' surgeries in west Belfast which were evacuated after pipe-bomb-type objects were discovered. Inset, a note on the door of one of the surgeries announces its temporary closure. Right inset, police at the scene PICTURES: Hugh Russell