POLICE say they have closed a road in Derry over a report that an unexploded device was left there by violent dissident republicans.
It came after dissident group Arm na Poblachta has issued a fresh warning that it had left a device in the city.
As a result, police on Monday morning announced that it had closed the Racecourse Road between Fir Road and Springfield Road to facilitate a search following the report about the device.
Local diversions are in place however motorists are advised to seek alternative routes if possible.
Last month the organisation claimed that a device left at a roadside in the ‘Ballyarnett Road’ area had failed to detonate.
In its latest statement the group has provided specific details about where the object is claimed to have been placed.
It is understood that members of the clergy and a politician have also been provided with information about the location of the device.
The object is said to have been left close to Paddock Lane, a private development off the Racecourse Road.
The area is close to Ballyarnett Country Park and a short distance from Steelstown Brian Ógs GAC.
A spokeswoman for the PSNI last night urged anyone in the Ballyarnet district of Derry “who come across or notice any suspicious objects in the Racecourse Road/Paddock Lane area not to touch them following a report to police that a device had been left in the area”.
The spokeswoman added that “officers are currently making a number of enquiries into the report”.
Arm na Poblachta first issued a statement about the device last month claiming that several warnings had also been issued at that time, including one to a local priest.
At the time Chief Superintendent Darrin Jones said police had carried out searches via air and land “in a bid to establish the location of these reported items”.
He said that nothing had been located adding that the community and people travelling through the area “should be mindful of their own personal safety”.
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