The Five Demands

Chiusa al traffico Antrim Road. Evacuate un centinaio di proprietà dopo il ritrovamento di un ordigno sospetto

Non dovrebbe terminare prima di mercoledì, all’ora di pranzo, lo stato di allerta che sta paralizzando Antrim Road, in entrambe le direzioni nel tratto compreso tra Limestone Road and Fortwilliam Park, a partire dalle ore 15 circa di oggi 25 gennaio.
Gli occupanti del centinaio di case e esercizi commerciali sgomberati, sono stati convogliati verso i centri di accoglienza approntati presso Fortwilliam e McCrory Presbyterian Church.
Intanto si temono gravissimi disagi al traffico nella mattinata di domani 26 gennaio.
“Siamo consapevoli dei ritardi e dei disagi che si verificheranno nella mattinata di Mercoledì,” ha detto la PSNI, consapevole del fatto che le operazioni di messa in sicurezza dell’area potrebbero dilungarsi e invita i residenti alla pazienza.
“Sappiamo che i cittadini ci chiedono di indagare su questo problema, e sui problemi loro causati dai responsabili dell’ordigno o del dispositivo-bufala, in modo completo e professionale”.
“Non appena si concluderà la nostra indagine e avremo fatto in modo che l’area di Antrim Road interessata dall’allerta sia sicuro per il transito della persone sia a piedi che in auto, riapriremo la strada. Ci stiamo muovendo il più velocemente possibile entro i limiti delle investigazioni”.
Il ministro della Giustizia David Ford ha condannato chi si cela dietro l’incidente.
“La responsabilità per l’interruzione spetta unicamente a chi ha lasciato questo dispositivo sospetto o bufala elaborata, e le loro azioni sono da condannare”.
“Esorto tutti ad essere pazienti e dare alla polizia il tempo e lo spazio necessario per affrontare in sicurezza l’allerta per tutto il tempo che ritenga servire.”

Video News da UTV

Up to 100 homes evacuated in city alert (UTV)
Up to 100 homes and businesses have been evacuated due to an ongoing security alert on the Antrim Road in north Belfast.
A security alert in north Belfast, which has led to the evacuation of around 100 properties and the closure of the Antrim Road, is now expected to last until Wednesday lunchtime.
Officers from the army bomb squad are examining a suspicious object near Glandore Avenue which was reported at around 3pm on Tuesday.
It is not yet known whether the object is an unexploded device or a deliberate hoax designed to cause disruption.
People from between 80 and 100 homes and businesses have now been moved out, with some taking temporary shelter at Fortwilliam and McCrory Presbyterian Church.
The Antrim Road has been cordoned off in both directions from the Limestone Road and Fortwilliam Park, and it is thought that the closures will remain in place until Wednesday afternoon at the earliest.
Police said they will be working with the Regional Development Department to minimise traffic congestion during rush hour on Wednesday morning.
Additional resources are to be deployed to assist with tail-backs that may occur, but officers are advising motorists to use the M2, Shore Road or Crumlin Roads instead.
The process of clearing the scene is “vital but often slow”, a PSNI statement said, and police are appealing for people to be “patient”.
“We are aware of the delays and disruption which will occur on Wednesday morning,” police said..
“We know the public want us to investigate this matter, and the disruption caused to them by those responsible for the device or hoax object, in a thorough and professional manner.
“As soon we conclude our investigation and make sure that the area of Antrim Road affected is safe for people to walk and drive down then the road will reopen. We are moving as quickly as we can within the boundaries of the investigation.”
Justice Minister David Ford has condemned those behind the incident.
“Responsibility for the disruption rests solely with those who left this suspicious device or elaborate hoax, and their actions are to be condemned,” Mr Ford said.
“I would urge everyone to be patient and to give the police the necessary time and space to deal safely with the incident for however long it takes.”

Articoli Correlati

• Homes evacuated in security alert (bbc.co.uk)