Omagh: St Mary's Church grounds searched after gunpoint hijack

A motorist has been held astatine gunpoint by 3 masked men and forced to thrust a suspicious entity to a constabulary presumption successful Omagh, County Tyrone.

It happened adjacent Fireagh Road, disconnected the Dromore Road astatine astir 22:00 BST connected Saturday.

Sunday Mass was cancelled astatine the adjacent St Mary's Church, arsenic constabulary searched the grounds.

A information alert astir the constabulary presumption connected the Derry Road successful Omagh has present ended.

A fig of homes were evacuated connected Saturday nighttime and cordons enactment successful place.

Technical officers examined the object. It has present been removed from the country and volition beryllium taxable to further investigations to found its viability.

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Insp Will Brown said it was a "misguided and senseless" incidental that caused disruption to the section community.

"Our thoughts are with the driver, who was, understandably, severely shaken by the ordeal," helium added.

Fr Eugene Hasson from St Mary's said it "shouldn't beryllium going connected astatine all" and was "very disruptive to people".

Insp Brown said helium was grateful for the public's patience and knowing during ongoing constabulary enactment successful the Fireagh Road area.

Police person appealed for witnesses and dash-cam footage from anyone who was successful the country astatine the time.