East Belfast MP Naomi Long condemns hoax alert at her east Belfast office

POLICE say a security alert at the Alliance Party offices in east Belfast last night was a hoax.

A suspicious object was found on Newtownards Road at about 10 pm on Wednesday night.

Army Technical Officers experts examined the object and have declared it to be a hoax.

The Newtownards Road was closed between Holywood Road and Grampian Avenue, but reopened to traffic just after 1 am this morning.

It was the second hoax alert at the office which is the base of east Belfast Alliance MP Naomi Long.

Mrs Long condemned those behind the hoax alert.

“This incident is yet another senseless attack on the whole community, with the business and residential life of the local area again subjected to unnecessary disruption.”