Homemade bomb found near scene of shooting in Omagh

A homemade bomb was found close to where an off duty police officer fired shots, the Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed tonight.

Detectives discovered the device during a follow-up investigation into an incident at a house in the Coolnagard area of Omagh last night.

No one was injured and, in line with normal protocol the Police Ombudsman was informed that a weapon was discharged.

A number of homes in the housing development on the outskirts of the Co Tyrone town had to be evacuated during the bomb alert. Army technical experts spent several hours examining the object and later described it as crude but viable.

Sinn Fein's Declan McAleer said he was deeply concerned. The West Tyrone MLA visited the scene this afternoon.

He said: "I spoke to several of the evacuated residents and they are very concerned that such a sinister incident involving the discharge of a firearm and a suspicious device has taken place in their community. I am therefore relieved that no one has been hurt or injured in this incident.

"Coolnagard is a very quiet residential area of the town where people from all sections of the community live side by side and where community relations are very good. The investigation is still ongoing so I await further details from the PSNI as to the exact nature of the events which unfolded here on Friday night."

DUP MLA Thomas Buchanan described it as a worrying time for the PSNI officer especially as the threat from dissident republican terrorists was severe.

A spokeswoman for the PSNI has appealed for anyone who noticed suspicious activity in the Coolnagard area over the past couple of months to come forward.

PA