Bomb found in city centre ‘was viable’

A BOMB “capable of causing death or serious injury” has been discovered in a heavily populated area of Belfast city centre.

A controlled explosion was carried out at Bradbury Place yesterday morning and the device was taken away for inspection, police said.

It was found on Friday night and major disruption was caused in the area. Residences and commercial premises in the city centre were evacuated overnight as police and army technical officers took steps to make the device safe. Police Inspector Eugene King thanked businesses and residents for their patience during the alert. “This was a viable device which was capable of causing death or serious injury and I would appeal to the community for information about the people who left this deadly device in the heart of our city,” he said.

Bradbury Place has a number of well-known shops and restaurants and is popular for night-time entertainment.