Woman and child held hostage by Tyrone raiders

A woman and her child were held hostage by raiders in Co. Tyrone last night while her partner was forced to hand over a number of legally-held firearms to the gang.

Two masked raiders, one of them armed, forced their way into a house in the Castlestrange area of Strabane.

They ordered the man to drive across the border and hand over the weapons in a church car park in Corcullion, Co. Donegal.

They subsequently released his partner and child, who are said to be shaken, but unhurt.