An Army bomb disposal unit has made safe a viable explosive device found in Dublin’s Phoenix Park.
The Defence Forces deployed the unit to a wooded marshland area of the park known as Quarry Lake last night following a request the gardai.
However, the team was unable to commence operations until first light this morning.
The Defence Forces said a “viable improvised explosive device” was made safe at the scene this morning, and the area has now been declared safe.
The component parts of the device were later handed over to gardai to assist in their investigation, an Army spokesman said.
The incident earlier forced the closure of several roads through and around the Phoenix Park causing widespread disruption to commuter traffic in the area.
AA Roadwatch said traffic remains heavy on all routes around the Phoenix Park with motorists reporting “very long delays”.
Traffic has improved slightly on the N3/Navan Road inbound. However, there are still reports of delays from the Auburn Avenue junction through to the Ashtown roundabout.
Dublin Bus is also reporting delays on the 37 and 38 bus routes towards the city centre.