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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Lauren Harte

Two arrested by police investigating hijacking and bomb hoax in North Belfast

Two people were arrested on Sunday as police continue their investigations into a hijacking and bomb hoax in North Belfast, which forced Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney from the stage at a peacebuilding event.

On Sunday afternoon, police said a 41-year-old man had been arrested by police investigating the security alert on Friday.

The PSNI said detectives from the Serious Crime Branch had arrested the man under the Terrorism Act and he was being questioned at Musgrave Serious Crime Suite.

Read more: Woman arrested by police investigating Belfast hijacking and bomb hoax

The attack has been linked to the UVF.

A 38-year-old woman was also questioned by police in relation to the incident. She has since been released on police bail pending further enquires.

She was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances, possession and concealing criminal property and possession of Class B Controlled drug with intent supply.

It comes after the Serious Crime Branch carried out searches in the Ballysillan and Springmartin areas of north and west Belfast on Saturday evening.

A suspected firearm, two vehicles, a quantity of controlled drugs and a large sum of cash were seized.

Friday's incident saw Mr Coveney being evacuated from an event organised by the John and Pat Hume Foundation at The Houben Centre, on the Crumlin Road.

On Friday night, Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan said loyalist paramilitaries are the chief suspects, namely the UVF.

A white Vauxhall Vivaro van was hijacked in Sydney Street West off the Shankill Road between 9am and 10am on Friday when the driver was threatened by two gunmen and forced to drive a short distance to another street where a device was placed in the vehicle.

Believing that he was carrying a live bomb and that his family was being threatened, the victim was then ordered to drive to Holy Cross Church where a funeral service was taking place, which was also disrupted.

Mr McEwan added: "At this early stage of the investigation, our assessment is that these crimes were carried out by loyalist paramilitary groups. We're keeping an open mind but one of the primary lines of investigation is the UVF."

The incident was condemned by politicians across the political spectrum.

Read more: Family "traumatised" as Belfast security alert interrupts funeral

Read more: Stormont Minister updates policy on wearing masks in schools

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