Alliance Newtownabbey Councillor Billy Webb has condemned those behind a pipe bomb found during a security alert in the area.
The viable device was discovered after a resident reported the suspicious object in their front garden in the Arthur Avenue area. Locals were moved to the Valley Leisure Centre this morning while the alert was ongoing.
“This alert caused massive upheaval on a Sunday morning for many residents and those behind it must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. Their actions achieve nothing except causing annoyance to the vast majority of people,” said Councillor Webb.
“The area is close to a playground and has many children living there, so this incident could have had even more severe consequences. I am grateful to the authorities involved in dealing with matter, including the Council for putting their emergency plan into operation by evacuating residents to the Valley Leisure Centre.
“If anyone has any information on the people behind this device, I urge them to go to police immediately.”