Unstable chemical cleared to re-open Dublin streets

Parts of Dublin city centre have re-opened after an Army Bomb Disposal Team made safe a quantity of unstable Picric Acid uncovered in a school science lab.

Lower Leeson Street and the whole of St. Stephen's Green had been closed off for a time.

The Defence Forces deployed a Bomb Disposal Team to the Catholic University School on Lower Leeson Street.

The team removed the chemical to nearby open ground and carried out a controlled explosion in order to make the chemical safe and the scene was declared safe at 6.10pm

Picric Acid is a chemical re-agent and is routinely used in laboratories but can crystallise and become unstable over time.

Gardaí said there is no danger to the public, but the substance must be dealt with carefully and correctly.