Bomb found in hijacked van

Army bomb experts carried out a controlled explosion

A bomb has been discovered in a van at the centre of a security alert in Belfast city centre.

Army bomb experts carried out a controlled explosion on the suspicious vehicle on Friday.

The device has been made safe but forensic scientists are still at the scene carrying out a detailed examination.

Businesses in the surrounding area are getting back to normal following the three-hour alert.

Eyewitnesses reported an explosion before army bomb experts arrived

It is understood the white van was hijacked in Carrigart Avenue, in the west of the city, by two or three masked men.

At least one of them had a handgun.

The van was left near Windsor House, on Franklin Street.

Police said eyewitnesses reported hearing a muffled explosion coming from the van shortly before army bomb disposal experts arrived at the scene at about 1100 BST.

A man, claiming to represent dissident republicans, telephoned a number of newsrooms warning a bomb had been left in the vehicle.

Dissident republican groups such as the Real IRA are opposed to the Northern Ireland peace process and have continued to carry out attacks on the security forces.

A number of shops and offices in Bedford Street, Clarence Street, Franklin Street and McClintock Street were evacuated during the alert.

It is the second security incident in Belfast this week.

On Monday, a number of alerts caused major traffic disruption throughout the city.