Pipe bomb found in east Belfast

Parts of a suspected pipe-bomb type device found outside a house in east Belfast last night have been taken away for technical examination by British army bomb disposal experts

Police received reports of an explosion near the house at about 8.38pm. A police spokesman said the Kenilworth Place property was empty at the time of the incident and there were no injuries.

British army technical officers were sent to the scene and later removed the remnants of the suspected device. Ulster Unionist MLA Michael Copeland said local people, who were in the area at the time of the explosion, found a fire which they then put out with a bucket of water.

A number of homes were evacuated during the security alert and a local community centre provided temporary accommodation.

Police have called on anyone with any information to come forward.