Viable explosive device found near Belfast school

Bomb scare leads to evacuations in Ardoyne area of city

File image: A member of the Northern Ireland police force patrols in the nationalist Ardoyne area (Getty)

Police in Northern Ireland have said a "viable device" has been taken off the streets after a bomb alert.

The explosive was discovered near a school in the Herbert Street area of Ardoyne in north Belfast.

A number of residents in the area around Holy Cross Boys' Primary School were evacuated for several hours as the security alert took place.

Police described the device as viable and said it had been taken away for forensic analysis.

The device was placed at the school gates and Sinn Fein Member of the Legislative Assembly for the area, Gerry Kelly, said it was designed to kill.

"I condemn it outright," he said. "Those behind it have no regard whatsoever for this community and they need to end these futile acts."

Twenty homes had to be evacuated during the security alert.

Mr Kelly added: "I welcome the fact that this device was found before it killed or injured somebody and anyone with information should bring it to the PSNI."

Mark Lindsay, chairman of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, said those behind the attack wanted to hurt officers.

"They didn't care if passers-by or children out playing in the area were caught up in an explosion. It was an entirely reckless act," he said. "This appears to have been a deadly, anti-personnel-type weapon. Thankfully, it was recovered and removed without being detonated.

"The attackers are terrorising people who live in the area and preventing them from getting on with their everyday lives."

Mr Lindsay added: "The local community, indeed Northern Ireland as a whole, want to be rid of these terrorists who are holding back communities and creating misery for the many."

Local SDLP councillor Paul McCusker said the threat was a chilling reminder that some people are still intent on taking life and causing injury in the community.

"These people are prepared to put children and other residents in harm's way," he said. "There can be no justification for this kind of attack on our community."