Northern Ireland

Security alert in Co Tyrone caused 'significant disruption'

Police have appealed for information
Police have appealed for information Police have appealed for information

A security alert in Co Tyrone which caused "significant disruption" was declared a hoax.

Homes were evacuated and roads closed in Strabane on Saturday after a suspicious object was discovered in the St Mary’s Drive area at around 5pm.

Army experts were called to examined the object, which was later declared to be a hoax.

PSNI Detective Sergeant Richard Donnell said: "The object was quite large and located in a busy area, so we are hopeful that someone may have seen something to assist in our enquiries.

"I am appealing for people to check their dash cams if they were in the area between 4pm-5pm yesterday. Anyone with any information can contact detectives at Strand Road."

Roads in the area were reopened to traffic shortly after 10.30pm.

Sinn Féin MP Órfhlaith Begley said the alert had "brought nothing but disruption to local residents and their families".

"Those behind this alert have nothing whatsoever to offer the local community and need to end these futile actions immediately."

SDLP assembly member Daniel McCrossan also said the security alert had caused "significant disruption" for local people, including pensioners, living in the "busy, built-up residential area".