Primary school hit by fresh bomb alert

A primary school and nearby houses in the heart of Ian Paisley’s constituency were evacuated during an early-morning bomb alert today.

A suspect device was discovered near the nursery unit of Harryville Primary School in the town of Ballymena in the Democratic Unionist leader’s North Antrim constituency.

Last month, pupils were taken to a nearby park as Army bomb disposal experts defused three viable pipe bombs near the school.

Today’s alert began shortly after 9am when the suspicious object was found in an entry between the school and the back gardens of a number of surrounding houses.

DUP Assembly member Ian Paisley Junior, who visited the scene, expressed his horror at the latest incident.

The Northern Ireland Policing Board member said: “This school experienced this before last month when three pipe bomb devices were dumped nearby.

“It would be horrendous and deeply irresponsible should this have happened again. Those responsible clearly do not care for the well-being of children.”

Army bomb disposal experts and police were at the scene.