A woman in her 40s has been arrested following the discovery of two viable pipe bombs outside a commercial premises in Dromore, County Down. The incident on 2 April led to a major security operation, including the evacuation of a local nursery and road closures, with bomb disposal experts rendering the devices safe. Police continue their investigation.
A woman in her 40s has been arrested following the discovery of two viable pipe bombs in County Down earlier this month, the Irish Mirror reports.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, 2 April, when police received a report at approximately 11.15am about two suspicious objects found outside a commercial premises on Church Street in Dromore. The discovery prompted a significant security operation, including the evacuation of several nearby buildings, notably a local nursery school.
During the evacuation, members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) escorted young children from the nursery to waiting parents at the roadside. Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly publicly commended the nursery's staff and leadership for their handling of the situation. In a message posted on X, she said, "I'm just so glad everyone is safe and a recognition to the nursery staff and leadership who managed to keep the children safe and settled through this difficult day."
The security alert caused major disruption in the area, resulting in the closure of the main road to Lurgan and a busy link road leading to the A1 dual carriageway. Army Technical Officers were dispatched to the scene to assess the suspicious objects. Their examination confirmed that both devices were viable pipe bombs. The army bomb experts subsequently rendered the devices safe and removed them for further forensic analysis.
On Thursday, 17 April, a woman was arrested on suspicion of possession of explosives under suspicious circumstances. The arrest followed a search operation conducted by Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Tactical Support Group (TSG) officers at a property on North Queen Street in Belfast. The woman was taken to Musgrave police station for questioning and was later released on bail, pending further inquiries by the police.
This arrest marks a significant development in the ongoing investigation surrounding the pipe bomb discovery in Dromore earlier this month. The police continue their enquiries to establish the full circumstances and any potential wider implications connected to the incident.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative references events dated from 2 April to 17 April 2025, including a recent arrest on 17 April 2025, indicating up-to-date information. There is no indication of recycled or outdated news, and the timeline is consistent with a current ongoing investigation.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
A direct quote from Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly is included, with a timestamp referencing a social media post on X. This is a primary, timely source. No earlier or conflicting references to this quote were found, suggesting it is original to this reporting.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Irish Mirror, which is a known media outlet in Ireland though not among the most authoritative for security or police reports. The information seems to rely on official statements from PSNI and public figures, lending credibility. However, it is not a globally top-tier news agency, so some caution is warranted.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The details about the pipe bomb discovery, evacuation procedures, police and army involvement, and subsequent arrest align well with standard security and law enforcement practices. The timeline and operational details are plausible and consistent with recent policing events, with no extraordinary or unverifiable claims.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is current and reports a recent event with up-to-date details, includes an original quote from a credible public official, and is consistent with known policing practices. Its source is a recognised national publication with reasonable reliability. The claims are plausible and supported by official responses. Therefore, the information can be considered accurate and trustworthy.
