Army bomb disposal team make safe second pipe bomb in Cork

Army bomb disposal experts have carried out a controlled explosion to make safe a viable pipe bomb left on the doorstep of a house on Cork’s Northside early this morning.

The device, described by gardaí as sophisticated with a battery and detonator, was left on the doorstep of a terraced house on Kilmore Road in Knocknaheeny.

It was discovered at around 9.15am by the occupants of the house, a middle aged man and his two sons in their 20s, who immediately evacuated the building.

Gardaí in nearby Gurranebraher were notified and some 12 houses on Kilmore Road were evacuated while an army bomb disposal team examined the device.

Kilmore Road was closed to traffic and diversions put in place as army bomb disposal experts decided on the best way to make safe the improvised explosive device.

Shortly after midday, the bomb disposal team carried out a controlled explosion on the device to make it safe before removing it to secure location for further examination.

Supt Con Cadogan said gardaí are investigating whether this latest pipe bomb may be linked to another device found in a garden in nearby Killala Gardens on Wednesday morning.

Gardaí are keeping an open on mind on the most recent incident including the possibility it may involve a case of mistaken identity and the intended target may have been another house.

Supt Cadogan appealed to anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity in the Kilmore Road area between 11pm last night and 9am today to contact them in confidence.

“We would be very anxious to hear from anyone who may have seen anything unusual here late on Thursday night and into Friday morning or have any information that can help us.

“Anyone contacting us will be treated in the strictest confidence because we are very anxious to put a stop to this sort of activity which could easily end in tragedy for some family.

“Our concern is say if a child picked this up, it could have fatal consequences and the people who are doing this aren’t thinking that way- they are putting innocent people’s lives at risk.”

Supt Cadogan said gardaí have begun door to door inquiries in the area and were hopeful that Garda technical experts will be able to examine the device after it was made safe.

Local Sinn Féin Cllr Mick Nugent condemned the latest attack and urged anyone with any information to contact gardaí.

“It’s very concerning for the local community - as I said after the first device, it would be an unusual occurrence in the area but to have two in the space of 48 hours is very disturbing.

“It’s very worrying - my message for people planting these devices is to stop and have concern for the people of the area who are very concerned about these incidents”.