A SUSPICIOUS device found near the railway line in Dún Laoghaire yesterday contained explosives and was viable, an Army spokesman said last night.
An Army bomb disposal team was called to a pedestrian bridge over the railway line at Old Dún Laoghaire Road at lunchtime yesterday after a report to the Garda.
The device, thought to be a pipe bomb, had been wrapped in a duffel bag.
The Army team arrived at 1.25pm and declared the scene safe shortly before 3pm. The device was taken to a secure military location for further examination.
The Army said the device had been initially classified as a “find”, but it was now the view that it was being stored at the location at which it was found.
It is thought the device may have been linked to one of Dublin’s criminal gangs. The Garda, which requested the help of the Army to deal with the device, said it would carry out an investigation into the incident.
There was severe disruption to rail and road traffic for several hours in the area as a result of the alert. Dart and mainline rail services were disrupted while gardaí diverted traffic from the area.
It was the 67th call-out for Army bomb disposal teams this year, and the 10th viable improvised explosive device made safe.