Northern Ireland

Belfast's Springfield Road reopens after security alert

Police closed the Springfield Road following the discovery of a suspicious object 
Police closed the Springfield Road following the discovery of a suspicious object  Police closed the Springfield Road following the discovery of a suspicious object 

The Springfield Road in west Belfast has reopened following a security alert this morning.

A suspicious object had been found and the road closed between Workman Avenue and Pollard Street for several hours this morning.

A number of homes in the area were also evacuated.

DUP Councillor Brian Kingston said: “I’ve been told by a senior PSNI officer, that Army Technical Officers declared the device to have been an 'elaborate hoax'.

“This was a deliberate effort to cause fear and to disrupt people’s lives. Those responsible for this device have caused huge disruption for residents, businesses and people wishing to travel along this arterial route.