Viable explosive device made safe in Maynooth

A viable improvised explosive device has been discovered by Gardaí near Dublin.

It was in the luggage compartment of a bus on the outskirts of Maynooth, Co Kildare.

A controlled explosion was carried out and the device made safe by the Army in the early hours of this morning.

An army spokesman said: “An army bomb disposal team made safe a viable improvised explosive device overnight in Maynooth, Co Kildare.”

The team arrived on scene at 11.10pm last night and the bomb was declared safe at 1.55am. The remains of the device were handed over to the Gardaí for investigation.

A massive security operation has been launched in Dublin ahead of the Queen’s arrival today.

Gardaí are patrolling the streets, parking is prohibited in many areas and large swathes of the city are being closed off.

Yesterday a dissident republican terror alert brought parts of London to a standstill and the threat level is high.