Newry: viable device found during security alert in city centre

A "viable explosive" device has been found during a security alert in Newry.

Police had cordoned off the area around Monaghan Street in the city centre after a suspicious object was discovered.

Northern Ireland's First Minister and Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O'Neill condemned what she termed a "cowardly attack" on the office used by Newry and Armagh MP Daire Hughes and Stormont MLA and Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins.

And she said it was an attack on democracy.

"There is absolutely no place for this kind of behaviour in our society.

"Sinn Fein will not be deterred or intimidated from continuing our work to better the lives of people and communities across Newry, Armagh, and Ireland," she said.

Mr Hughes said he will not be deterred after the incident at the constituency office on Monaghan Street in the city.

A PSNI spokesperson said: " The ATO attended and examined the object which has been declared a viable explosive device.

"The device has been made safe and removed for further examination. Cordons have been removed and Monaghan Street has now re-opened."

The spokesperson urged those with information to get in touch

“We’re grateful this morning to local people for their patience while we worked to make the area safe," the spokesperson added.

"An investigation is now underway and detectives would ask anyone with information, or who may have captured dash-cam or CCTV footage from the area which could help with their investigation, to call them at Ardmore on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 1648 05/10/25.

"A report can be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or you can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/."