Two security alerts in Craigavon over suspicious objects

Police declared a second security alert in Craigavon, County Armagh, in the early hours of Tuesday after the discovery of suspicious devices, with cordons in place and members of the public asked to avoid the area.

The latest alert was in the Aldervale area, with cordons reported on the Tullygalley Road. Officers said they expected to remain at the scene for a number of hours while enquiries continued. The development follows an earlier incident on Monday evening in the nearby Pinebank area, where a suspicious object led to the evacuation of a number of homes.

Local councillor Jude Mallon, of Sinn Féin, said many residents were forced to leave their homes because of the ongoing alert in Pinebank and praised community groups for supporting those affected. "I want to commend the local GAA club, Éire Óg, and Brownlow Hub, who have opened their facilities to support those affected," he said.

A small police presence remained in Pinebank on Tuesday morning while several patrol cars continued to monitor the area. Some residents expressed frustration that they had not been allowed to return to their homes since the evacuation late on Monday. One resident said she was denied entry to her house at about 02:00 BST despite a dog being inside and that required medication was also in the property.

Police have asked members of the public to avoid both the Pinebank and Aldervale areas while officers manage the scenes. No further details about the nature of the suspicious items or any arrests were provided by police in initial briefings, and official updates were expected as searches and assessments continued.

The incidents come amid ongoing security operations in parts of Northern Ireland where precautionary cordons and evacuations are used while suspected devices are assessed. Emergency response teams typically work with police to establish and maintain exclusion zones until a scene is declared safe. Local support organisations and community centres often open to provide shelter and assistance for evacuated residents.

Authorities did not provide an immediate timeline for when residents would be allowed to return to evacuated properties. Police reiterated appeals for the public to heed cordons and avoid the affected roads while enquiries progress.