A 34-year-old man has been charged following a security alert in Newtownards in which a suspect object was declared a “viable explosive device”.
Homes were evacuated on Tuesday after the object was found at a flat in the Rosevale Avenue area of the town.
Following an examination by ammunition technical officers, the device was made safe and removed from the flat along with a number of suspected firearms for further examination.
The man was arrested and later charged by police with possessing explosives with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property, possession of a Class C controlled drug, and possession of firearm(s) or ammunition in suspicious circumstances.
He is due to appear at Downpatrick Magistrates Court on Thursday, and all charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.
