Residents return home after alert in Armagh city

Army bomb experts have been called to the scene

People in Armagh who were evacuated from their homes due to a security alert have been allowed to return.

A suspicious object was found at Naill's Crescent at its junction with Friary Road at 2130 GMT on Thursday.

Army bomb disposal experts remain at the scene and the alert remains ongoing.

Sinn Fein MLA Cathal Boylan said those behind the incident showed a "complete disregard" for the safety of people in the area.

"Once again we have a situation where a suspected bomb has been placed in a residential area which has necessitated the evacuation of families from their homes in the middle of the night," he said.

Meanwhile, police have arrested two men aged 21 and 23 in the city.

The arrests were part of an operation against suspected dissident republican activity and were made by detectives from the Serious Crime Branch.