Pipe-bomb found at Belfast retail complex

A pipe-bomb type device was discovered in commercial premises in Belfast today.

The device was found at lunchtime in the premises at Apollo Road on the huge Boucher Road retail complex in the south-west of the city.

An army bomb disposal team was tasked to the scene and took the device away for examination without having to carry out a controlled explosion.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland maintained a news blackout for over five hours until the alert was over - and then refused to say which commercial premises were involved.

The find will cause concern among police chiefs that dissident republicans are out to cause disruption in the run up to Christmas .

PA