Round 100 properties have been evacuated after a “severe safety alert” at a police station in Lurgan, a Democratic Unionist Social gathering (DUP) MP has confirmed.
A number of roads have been closed, police stated, after a pizza supply van was reportedly hijacked and left outdoors Lurgan Police Station on Tuesday morning.
The alert was issued simply earlier than 12.30am, and is in place within the Church Place space of the County Armagh city.
Carla Lockhart MP stated a suspicious package deal was positioned contained in the automobile earlier than it was parked, and a managed explosion has now taken place.
Church Place, Church Stroll and Wellington Road are closed, whereas sections of Market Road, William Road and North Road are additionally shut off, police confirmed.
Motorists have been advised to keep away from the world whereas investigations are ongoing.
For these evacuated, Logan City Corridor has been opened and can present refuge and assist, Mrs Lockhart added.
Mrs Lockhart confirmed the information in a press release on-line: “There’s at the moment a severe safety alert in Lurgan city centre, centred across the police station, involving a suspicious automobile.
Round 100 properties have been evacuated after a severe safety alert at a police station in Lurgan, a Democratic Unionist Social gathering (DUP) MP has confirmed
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PA“The city centre has been utterly closed off and is more likely to stay so for a big time period.
“It will inevitably trigger main disruption to the world, and we ask everybody to keep away from the neighborhood and observe all steering from authorities.
“For these affected, Lurgan City Corridor has been opened to offer refuge and assist for anybody who has been evacuated.
“This isn’t one thing anybody needs to see in our society right this moment.
The incident is claimed to have taken place outdoors Lurgan Police Station
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“The state of affairs is deeply regarding, and I might strongly urge anybody who might have any data to come back ahead and report it to the PSNI instantly.
“I need to totally and unequivocally condemn what has occurred tonight in Lurgan.
“Our ideas are with everybody impacted, and we hope for a protected and swift decision.”
Ulster Unionist Social gathering (UUP) chief Jon Burrows advised the BBC the incident “bears all of the hallmarks of a terrorist assault, most likely carried out by dissident republicans”.
He stopped in need of confirming explosives within the automobile, but additionally confirmed a managed explosion had taken place, describing it as a ‘”reckless assault”.
“I believe it is a reminder that whereas they have been closely infiltrated and dismantled, there nonetheless stays deadly intent and functionality of dissident republicans,” he added.
A spokesman for the PSNI confirmed the alert was underway shortly after midnight: “Members of the general public are requested to keep away from the Church Place space of Lurgan as a consequence of an ongoing safety alert, this morning.
“Cordons are in place, and an evacuation operation is because of get underway.
