Delivery driver forced at gunpoint to take explosive device to police station in 'abhorrent' hijacking

A fast food delivery driver was forced to drive to a police station at gunpoint with a "crude but viable" explosive device placed in his car by hijackers, police have said.

The incident on Monday night sparked a major security alert in County Armagh, Northern Ireland.

Around 100 homes had to be evacuated in Lurgan following the hijacking, while several roads remained closed until Tuesday morning.

Northern Ireland's justice minister, Naomi Long, has described the incident as a "shameful and dangerous attack".

Ms Long said: "This is a shameful and dangerous attack that has put lives at risk, and caused disruption and upset to the local community.

"There is absolutely no place for this utterly reckless and abhorrent behaviour.

"I would like to commend the police officers who responded quickly and professionally to this incident, and my thoughts are also with all those who have been caught up by this despicable attack."

The driver was subjected to a "horrific and terrible ordeal" after he was forced to stop in his white Audi car at around 10.30pm on Monday night, police said.

Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the vehicle was "hijacked by two masked men, one of whom was armed with a pistol".

"The man placed an object in the boot of his white Audi A4 car, and the driver was ordered to drive it to Lurgan police station or he would be killed," he said on Tuesday morning.

"The car was driven to the station, where the driver escaped and bravely ran to security staff telling them that there was a bomb in the car, a horrific and terrible ordeal for him."

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He continued: "Ammunition Technical officers carried out a controlled explosion to make the vehicle safe, and we now know that this was a crude but viable improvised explosive device.

"As unsophisticated as it was, it posed a significant risk to the life of the terrified delivery driver, our security staff and the local community."

ACC Henderson added that it is "highly likely" dissident Republicans were responsible for the attack.

"Those who did this do not have the support of our community here in Lurgan or beyond, and it is our community [who] have had to deal with the disruption caused by their pathetic attempt to remain relevant and provoke fear," he said.

'No place for this in Northern Ireland'

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn described the attack as a "reckless act of violence".

He said in a post on X: "There is no place for this in Northern Ireland, and those responsible must be held to account."

The incident is being investigated by the Police Service of Northern Ireland's specialist terrorism unit.

Church Place, Church Walk and Wellington Street remain closed to traffic, along with sections of Market Street, William Street and North Street.

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