Pipe bomb alert in West Belfast

A viable pipe bomb has been thrown at a house in west Belfast.

Dozens of homes in the Glenalina Park area of Ballymurphy were evacuated during the alert just after 10pm last night.

Residents were moved to the nearby Whiterock Community Centre but were allowed back into their houses at about 12.30am.

Army technical experts were called to the scene and declared the object a viable device.

A spokeswoman for the PSNI said the pipe bomb had been taken away for further examination.

Sinn Fein councillor in west Belfast, Stephen Corr condemned the attack and said the community was outraged.

He said: “This community is angry and annoyed that this has been visited upon them.”