Explosive device found in Dundalk

Irish army experts yesterday carried out a controlled explosion on a suspect device found in the centre of Dundalk, Co Louth, close to the border with Northern Ireland.

Police sources said the incident was not regarded as a hoax and it was thought the device could have been planted by an Ulster loyalist paramilitary group. A large area of Dundalk was sealed off while police and troops worked on a package, left in an alley off the town's main street. The device was found after a call to media offices warned of bombs planted in the car park at Dublin airport and in Dundalk. Nothing was located in the airport, but searching police uncovered the Dundalk package.