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A significant security alert unfolded in Lurgan, with a police station at the heart of the situation, described by a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP as “extremely serious and deeply concerning.” On Tuesday morning, authorities reported several road closures in the County Armagh town following the alert centered on Church Place. Among the incidents, a pizza delivery van was hijacked in the Kilwilkie estate, with an individual coerced into driving the vehicle, which had an object placed inside it, to the police station in Lurgan.
The consequences of the alert have been substantial. Approximately 100 residences were evacuated as a precautionary measure, and police carried out an initial controlled explosion as part of the response. Numerous roads remain closed, including Church Place, Church Walk, and Wellington Street, alongside parts of Market Street, William Street, and North Street. Authorities have advised motorists to steer clear of these areas to ensure safety and allow emergency services to operate efficiently.
Residents of Lurgan expressed their distress over the ordeal. Paul Henderson recounted being woken in the early hours by police at his home and told to evacuate due to what was described as a “bomb scare.” Speaking to BBC News NI, Henderson said, “I was in total shock – I had literally just fallen asleep.” He was among about 50 evacuees who spent the night at Lurgan Town Hall, describing the experience as “very frightening,” especially for families with young children. DUP MP Carla Lockhart emphasized on BBC News NI’s Good Morning Ulster programme that those responsible intended to cause “maximum disruption,” adding, “It’s grim that when we think in 2026 that this is the type of activity that some people want to try and engage in.” She also expressed sympathy for the driver whose vehicle was hijacked and highlighted that while some seek to drag Lurgan back to unstable times, the community wishes to move forward as a united society.
Commenting on the incident, Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Jon Burrows characterized the event as bearing “all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack, probably carried out by dissident republicans.” He described it as a “reckless attack” that endangered both the public and police officers responding to the situation. Despite no official confirmation of explosives in the vehicle, a controlled explosion had been conducted. Burrows underscored the risks faced by local families—including elderly people, those with disabilities, and young children—as well as the dedication of officers putting their lives at risk. He noted, “while they’ve been heavily infiltrated and dismantled, there still remains lethal intent and capability of dissident republicans.”
The alert caused considerable disruption to local life. John O’Dowd, a Sinn Féin MLA for Upper Bann, acknowledged the “massive disruption” to families and businesses and expressed hope for a swift return to normalcy. Justice Minister Naomi Long condemned the incident as a “shameful and dangerous attack” that jeopardized lives. She stated, “There is absolutely no place for this utterly reckless and abhorrent behaviour,” while commending the swift and professional response of police officers and extending her thoughts to all those affected by what she called a “despicable attack.
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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