Two men arrested over Simon Coveney security alert
Mr Coveney had to leave the peace-making event organised by the John and Pat Hume Foundation
Last updated 8th Jun 2022
Two men have been arrested as part of a police investigation into a security alert which led to Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney being evacuated from a peace event in Belfast.
The men aged 51 and 46 have been arrested under the Terrorism Act in North Belfast (Wednesday).
The arrests follow the ongoing investigation into a hijacking and security alert on the Shankill on Friday 25 March.
Two firearms have also been seized following operations in the Shankill area of Belfast and in Ballymena, Co Antrim.
Mr Coveney had to leave the peace-making event organised by the John and Pat Hume Foundation.
The Houben Centre in the Crumlin Road was evacuated and a funeral service at nearby Holy Cross Church was disrupted.
Police said the driver of a van was threatened by two gunmen and forced to drive a device, which he believed to be a live bomb, to the church.
A PSNI spokesperson said: "Terrorism Investigation Unit detectives investigating a hijacking and security alert in north Belfast on Friday March 25 have arrested two men.
"A 46-year-old male was arrested under the Terrorism Act in the Shankill area.
"Two suspected firearms have been recovered and a vehicle has been taken away for examination.
"As part of the operation, a 51-year-old male was arrested in the Ballymena area under the Terrorism Act. A van has been seized and taken away for examination.
"Both men are currently being questioned in the Serious Crime Suite of Musgrave police station in Belfast."
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Simon Coveney evacuated from Belfast event after 'hijacked van' causes 'security alert'
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