THE security alert in east Belfast is now over.

Police say a pipe bomb was thrown into garden of house at Island St at 3.40 am this morning by two men.

They fled the scene on a motorbike.

A motorcycle, believed to have been involved, was recovered by police a short time later in the Clandeboye Street area just off Castlereagh Street.

They are also investigating whether a red-coloured Honda Civic that crashed on the Beersbridge Road shortly before 5am is linked to the incident.

Army Technical Officers have made safe the device which has now been taken away for forensic examination.

The area has now been cleared and detectives have launched an investigation in a bid to track down the two men behind the attack.

Some residents in the Island Street area were moved from their homes during the alert.

Dee Street Community Centre was opened to accommodate them. They have now been allowed to return to their homes.

Detective Chief Inspector Gary Reid is appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident or anyone with any information about the movements of a red Kawasaki motorcycle or the red Honda Civic to contact Detectives in Musgrave Police Station on the non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Meanwhile in the north of the city, police are also at the scene of a security alert in the Brompton Park area of the Crumlin Road.

The ATO is also examining an object.

Police have urged people not to approach any suspicious objects but instead report them immediately to the PSNI.