Dunmurry device 'could have killed someone'

Army bomb disposal experts were called at about 11am to the scene in the Glasvey area which was cordoned off for much of the day.

The device was made safe after a number of controlled explosions.

The discovery has sparked wide condemnation, with police urging parents to be aware of where their children are following a number of incidents of riotous and anti-social behaviour and criminal damage in the area over the past few weeks.

Area Commander Acting Chief Inspector Mark Shaw said his officers were taking the incidents extremely seriously and have stepped up patrols in the area in order to 'bring this type of reckless behaviour to an end and to identify those responsible'.

"I ask that those involved in this behaviour to stop immediately as it is totally unwelcome and unacceptable" he said.

"Groups of youths, some very young, are engaging in stone throwing, attacking cars, and ultimately causing disruption to the communities that they live in. They risk not just injuring themselves but causing misery to the vast majority of the people in Dunmurry who just want to live in peace.

"I also appeal to parents - do you know where your children are when they leave the house, especially now as the evenings are getting brighter? Do you know what they are getting up to and who they are hanging around with? If you don't - then you need to start asking these questions - as turning a blind eye is no excuse," he said.

In the past 10 days, there were several incidents of riotous behaviour in which stones, petrol bombs and other missiles were thrown. Police officers came under attack as they tried to assist colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire Service.

A 15-year-old youth was charged with riotous behaviour and is due to appear in court next week. A 14-year old youth was arrested for riotous behaviour. He was released pending a report to the Youth Diversion Officer. A 17-year old youth and a 33-year-old man were arrested for disorderly behaviour and reported to the PPS.

A/C/I Shaw added: "I want to express my thanks to local community leaders who have been doing their best to intervene and use their influence to dissuade youths from engaging in this kind of unacceptable behaviour which only hurts their own community.

"Young people have to understand - this activity is not a game. Anyone involved in such acts leaves themselves liable to arrest, prosecution and a criminal record."

SDLP Councillor Brian Heading condemned those responsible for leaving the device.

"Those who caused this security alert have absolutely no respect for the local community and have caused major inconvenience to children returning home from school and people trying to get home after work" he said.

"I call on whoever is behind these activities to stop them immediately. They must realise that there is a better way to get the attention of the public through non-violent means.

Sinn Fein MLA Paul Butler warned the device "could have killed" people in the area.

"Those who planted it are irresponsible" he said. "The vast majority of residents don't want to see this; they thought this kind of activity was a thing of the past.

"There have been a number of incidents with petrol bombs being thrown at the police and stones being thrown at cars and we believe there are sinister elements behind that, with so-called dissidents involved in the activity. All they are doing is holding the community to ransom; people want to live in a more peaceful society. The people involved in this should stop and get off the backs of the community."