Gardaí investigate two bomb hoaxes in Dublin

Gardaí in Dublin are investigating two separate bomb hoaxes in the south of the city overnight.

Two suspicious devices were discovered at around 11pm last night underneath vehicles in the Rutland Grove area of Crumlin and on the Upper Rathmines Road.

The surrounding areas were cordoned off and nearby houses were evacuated while bomb disposal experts examined the devices.

However, both were later declared to be elaborate hoaxes.

The devices have now been sent to the Garda Technical Bureau for examination.

The incidents come amid a huge upsurge in the use of pipe-bombs and hoax pipe-bombs by Dublin criminals.

The devices rarely explode and appear designed to intimidate or threaten the intended target.