East Belfast: Pipe bomb explodes in residential area

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Motorists have been asked to avoid the Hyndford Street and Ballyquinn Road areas

A pipe bomb exploded in a residential area of east Belfast on Tuesday night, police have confirmed.

Residents were evacuated from their homes in the area of Hyndford Street off the Beersbridge Road.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have said that officers discovered what they described as a "crude pipe bomb-type device" next to a household bin.

Minor damage was caused to the bin and there were no reports of injuries.

The PSNI said they were contacted after a loud bang was heard at around 20:20 BST.

Inspector Greg Dawson described the incident as "a reckless act carried out in a residential area with no consideration given as to who this device could have injured or killed".

Meanwhile, in Dungiven, County Londonderry, a security alert on Ballyquinn Road has now ended.

The alert at a business park in the area was first reported on Tuesday night.

Sinn F茅in Councillor Dermott Nicholl told 大象传媒 News NI that the search has concluded and nothing untoward was found.