Police arrest 30-year-old man over Newtownabbey security alerts

THE PSNI’S Serious Crime Branch has arrested a man over recent security alerts in the Newtownabbey area.

The 30-year-old was arrested on Monday on suspicion of riot, improper use of a public electronic communications network and making explosives under suspicious circumstances.

The suspect is currently being questioned by detectives at the serious crime suite in Antrim.

The arrest follows two searches in the area. A number of items were seized, a police spokesperson said.

There has been a spate of hoax alerts in the Newtownabbey/Glengormley area in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, a crude but viable bomb has been found outside a supermarket in Newtownabbey.

It was discovered in the Doagh Road area at around 2.40am on Monday.

Army bomb experts were called to the scene and carried out examinations on the device which was described as a “small, crude but viable, explosive”.

The security alert ended at around 6.20am.

In another alert,  the O’Neill Road area in Newtownabbey was cordoned off due to a hoax device

It comes after a “small, crude but viable” bomb was left outside a Catholic church in Glengormley over the weekend.

The bomb was left on the disable ramp at St Mary’s On The Hill.