Monaghan Street sealed off following discovery of suspicious object

The entire length of Monaghan Street in Newry remains sealed off following the discovery of a suspicious object beside an on-street parking ticket dispenser between the Mace store and the Bureau de Change on the street.

The street was closed by Police shortly after 9am and a two bomb vehicles arrived around 10.45am. On what would normally be a busy Thursday virtually all shops in the street are shut currently with no access to them. Access to Monaghan Street from all side streets isn't possible and the Health village while still operating can only be accessed from Cornmarket direction.

The bomb disposal team dispensed a robot over to the scene and members of the public reported a loud pop followed by a smell similar to burning rubber.

No further information is available at present.