Around 100 homes have been evacuated after a “serious security alert” at a police station in Lurgan, a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP has confirmed.
Several roads have been closed, police said, after a pizza delivery van was reportedly hijacked and left outside Lurgan Police Station on Tuesday morning.
The alert was issued just before 12.30am, and is in place in the Church Place area of the County Armagh town.
Carla Lockhart MP said a suspicious package was placed inside the vehicle before it was parked, and a controlled explosion has now taken place.
Church Place, Church Walk and Wellington Street are closed, while sections of Market Street, William Street and North Street are also shut off, police confirmed.
Motorists have been told to avoid the area while investigations are ongoing.
For those evacuated, Logan Town Hall has been opened and will provide refuge and support, Mrs Lockhart added.
Mrs Lockhart confirmed the news in a statement online: “There is currently a serious security alert in Lurgan town centre, centred around the police station, involving a suspicious vehicle.
Around 100 homes have been evacuated after a serious security alert at a police station in Lurgan, a Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP has confirmed
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PA“The town centre has been completely closed off and is likely to remain so for a significant period of time.
“This will inevitably cause major disruption to the area, and we ask everyone to avoid the vicinity and follow all guidance from authorities.
“For those affected, Lurgan Town Hall has been opened to provide refuge and support for anyone who has been evacuated.
“This is not something anyone wants to see in our society today.
The incident is said to have taken place outside Lurgan Police Station
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“The situation is deeply concerning, and I would strongly urge anyone who may have any information to come forward and report it to the PSNI immediately.
“I want to utterly and unequivocally condemn what has happened tonight in Lurgan.
“Our thoughts are with everyone impacted, and we hope for a safe and swift resolution.”
Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Jon Burrows told the BBC the incident “bears all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack, probably carried out by dissident republicans”.
He stopped short of confirming explosives in the vehicle, but also confirmed a controlled explosion had taken place, describing it as a ‘”reckless attack”.
“I think it’s a reminder that while they’ve been heavily infiltrated and dismantled, there still remains lethal intent and capability of dissident republicans,” he added.
A spokesman for the PSNI confirmed the alert was underway shortly after midnight: “Members of the public are asked to avoid the Church Place area of Lurgan due to an ongoing security alert, this morning.
“Cordons are in place, and an evacuation operation is due to get underway.
