THE PSNI and Army Technical Officers are at the scene of a security alert in Belfast city centre this evening.
The security alert is at the rear of Boots the chemist store in Fountain Street.
ATO has deployed a bomb disposal robot is being used in the operation and a sniffer dog is carrying out searches.
Part of Fountain Street has been cordoned off, ruining Friday trade for licensed premises in the area.
Police are expecting an escalation in dissident republican violence in the coming weeks, say security sources.