Traffic snarlsup in west ‘Belfast during security alert at Broadway

TRAFFIC is returning to normal on the Westlink and part of the M1 motorway in Belfast after a security alert was declared an “elaborate hoax”.

A suspicious object, believed to have been a pipe bomb type device, was discovered at the Broadway roundabout on Thursday morning.

Army bomb squad officers were tasked to the scene and later carried out a controlled explosion.

The ATO informed policed that the device was an “elaborate hoax”.

Police are investigating and trying to establish who left the device in the area.

The alert caused major traffic disruption in the area at the time, vehicles were diverted off the motorway at Stockman’s Lane offslip as the Westlink was closed in both directions.

SDLP councillor Tim Attwood condemns those behind hoax device in west Belfast

SDLP councillor Tim Attwood said an object that appeared to be a pipe bomb was found on a BT box.

He condemned those behind it for causing “traffic mayhem” as cars were at a standstill.

The SDLP representative explained: “This device has caused traffic mayhem along a major route.

“The people behind this device are reckless.

“While everyone else was going about their normal business, trying to get to work, their contribution and intent was to cause injury and serious disruption.”