Bomb squad and police tasked to five Waterside alerts

The Trench Road close to Hollymount Park has been closed and motorists are advised to avoid the area.

The Strabane Old Road was earlier closed and residents evacuated from their homes, however, the bomb squad have now finished at the scene and the alert has been declared an elaborate hoax. An object has been removed for further forensic examination and residents have returned to their homes.

Police had earlier attended three separate security alerts in the Gobnascale Road area in the early hours of this morning.

Police first attended a report of a suspicious object at the Mimosa Court area at around 12.55am.

This was followed by a further report of a suspicious object at the Strabane Old Road area shortly after 1.15am.

Police were once again called to a report of a suspicious object at business premises at the Strabane Old Road area shortly before 1.50am.

Army Technical Officers (ATO) were tasked to all three scenes and each incident was declared an elaborate hoax.

Residents were able to return to their homes shortly before 7am this morning and all roads in the area were re-opened.