Blast bomb defused in Belfast

A blast bomb was found and defused in a garage in a north Belfast housing estate tonight.

Police said the device was discovered by officers during the planned search of the premises at Coolshannagh Park in the Rathcoole area.

The device and other items were taken away for further examination after being defused by an army bomb disposal expert.

Chief Inspector Chris Shead said the bomb was a “potentially lethal device which could have caused injury or even death if it had exploded”.

He said leaving the device in a housing estate could have had “catastrophic results”.

There were no arrests in relation to the find.