Around 100 homes have been evacuated after a “serious security alert” at a police station in Lurgan, a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP has confirmed.
Several roads have been closed, police said, after a pizza delivery van was reportedly hijacked and left outside Lurgan Police Station on Tuesday morning.
Carla Lockhart MP said a suspicious package was placed inside the vehicle before it was parked, and a controlled explosion has now taken place.
Church Place, Church Walk and Wellington Street are closed, while sections of Market Street, William Street and North Street are also shut off, police confirmed.
Mrs Lockhart confirmed the news in a statement online, adding: “This is not something anyone wants to see in our society today.
“The situation is deeply concerning, and I would strongly urge anyone who may have any information to come forward and report it to the PSNI immediately.
“I want to utterly and unequivocally condemn what has happened tonight in Lurgan.
Around 100 homes have been evacuated after a serious security alert at a police station in Lurgan, a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP has confirmed
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PA“Our thoughts are with everyone impacted, and we hope for a safe and swift resolution.”
Motorists have been told to avoid the area while investigations are ongoing.
For those evacuated, Logan Town Hall has been opened and will provide refuge and support, Mrs Lockhart added.
Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Jon Burrows told the BBC the incident “bears all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack, probably carried out by dissident republicans”.
He stopped short of confirming explosives in the vehicle, but also confirmed a controlled explosion had taken place, describing it as a ‘”reckless attack”.
“I think it’s a reminder that while they’ve been heavily infiltrated and dismantled, there still remains lethal intent and capability of dissident republicans,” he added.
A spokesman for the PSNI confirmed the alert was underway shortly after midnight: “Members of the public are asked to avoid the Church Place area of Lurgan due to an ongoing security alert, this morning.
“Cordons are in place, and an evacuation operation is due to get underway.”
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