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Man held under Terrorism Act after fire in west Belfast

Police and army bomb disposal officers at the scene in Rodney Drive, west Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann
Police and army bomb disposal officers at the scene in Rodney Drive, west Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann Police and army bomb disposal officers at the scene in Rodney Drive, west Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann

A 35-YEAR-OLD man was arrested yesterday under the Terrorism Act after bomb disposal experts were called to the scene of a fire in west Belfast.

Police, firefighters and bomb disposal officers were called to Rodney Drive after a report at about 9.30am of a fire in a boiler house.

Several suspicious objects were found and removed for further examination.

A 35-year-old man was later arrested by detectives from the PSNI's Terrorism Investigation Unit.

He yesterday remained in custody assisting police with their enquiries.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said it was called following a report of an oil boiler on fire.

Two crews from Springfield Station and Cadogan Fire Station attended the scene and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished the blaze and isolated the oil tank.

PSNI detective inspector Anthony Kelly said: "I want to thank the public for their patience while we worked to make the scene safe."

He appealed for anyone with information about the incident to phone detectives on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference 355 of 14/11/18, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.