Suspicious object left outside Omagh police station 'an elaborate hoax'

The force said at around 10pm on Saturday (May 6), it was reported that a man was hijacked by three masked men at gunpoint in the Fireagh Road area, off the Dromore Road in Omagh, who placed a suspicious object in his vehicle – a silver-coloured Volkswagen Golf – and forced him to travel to the Derry Road area and abandon the car outside Omagh police station.

A public safety operation was immediately implemented, with a number of people evacuated from their homes and cordons established.

Ammunition technical officers examined the object and it was removed from the scene for further examination to establish its viability, said the PSNI.

“The object recovered was taken away for further forensic examination and now confirmed as an elaborate hoax,” the force said.

Two men, aged 56 and 29, who were arrested on Sunday (May 7) have been released following questioning.

Condemning the incident, Inspector Will Brown said: “The misguided and senseless actions of those responsible have caused disruption in the local community.

“Our thoughts are with the driver, who was, understandably, badly shaken by the ordeal.”

The PSNI said a security alert in the Derry Road area of Omagh has now ended but investigations into the incident continue.

Insp Brown added: “Thank you to all those who were impacted and to the wider public for your patience and cooperation. We are also grateful for the understanding of those impacted by the ongoing police activity in the Fireagh Road area.

“We are particularly keen to speak to anyone who was in the vicinity of the church on the Fireagh Road, or travelling between the Fieragh Road and Omagh police station between 9pm and 10pm that night.”