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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Lauren Harte

Omagh security alert: Police issue renewed appeal for information one week on

Police have issued a renewed appeal for information a week after a suspicious object was placed in a car before the driver was forced to drive the vehicle to a police station and abandon it.

The hijacking led to a security alert at a Co Tyrone police station last Saturday but the object was later confirmed to be an “elaborate hoax”.

The motorist was forced to drive from St Mary's Church on Fireagh Road to Omagh PSNI station on Derry Road after being held at gunpoint.

Read more: Police say object left in car after hijacking an "elaborate hoax"

On Friday, detectives from the PSNI's Terrorism Investigation Unit investigating the incident in Omagh last weekend issued a renewed appeal for information, one week on.

Detective Inspector Wilson said: “Police received a report of a hijacking in which three masked men held the driver of a silver-coloured Volkswagen Golf at gunpoint.

“This was at around 10pm on Saturday 6 May, and was on the Fireagh Road, just off the Dromore Road.

“The men placed a suspicious object in the car, and forced the driver to drive to the Derry Road and abandon the car outside Omagh Police Station.

“Two men arrested the next day were released following questioning. And the object, after forensic examination, has been declared an elaborate hoax.”

DI Wilson continued: “As you can imagine, this has been a totally harrowing ordeal for the driver, and indeed distressing for those who had to be evacuated from their homes.

“Our investigation continues and I am appealing to anyone with information, or who may have captured dash cam footage, to please come forward.”

You can contact detectives on 101, quoting reference number 2015 of 06/05/2023, or alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org

Information, including CCTV and dash cam footage, can also be provided to police through the Major Incident Public Portal here.

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