GARDAÍ are investigating after a suspect explosive device was found underneath a car in a residential area of Limerick City early this Friday morning (October 4). Locals in the area reported hearing a loud bang as authorities dealt with the device.
Gardaí discovered the device underneath a car that was parked outside a house at Pike Avenue, Garryowen, around 1.30am after Garda members responded to an address in the area following a report of criminal damage to a vehicle.
Gardaí placed a security cordon around the area where the car was found and requested the assistance of the Defence Forces.
A Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit (EOD) robot carried an assessment of the device which was declared not viable.
Gardaí are investigating whether or not the incident is linked to other recent violent incidents in the area.
A Garda spokesman confirmed that “Gardaí responded to reports of criminal damage to a parked car in the Garryowen area of Limerick shortly after 1.30a.m. this morning, Friday, 4th October 2024.”
“While attending to the incident, a suspect device was discovered under the vehicle. A cordon was established and the Army EOD unit attended at the scene. The device was deemed non-viable and the cordon was subsequently lifted.”
The Garda spokesman said “no additional information“ was available to him and that local Garda investigations were “ongoing”.
A Defence Forces spokesman confirmed that, “bomb disposal experts from the Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team responded to a request for assistance from An Garda Síochána in relation to a suspected explosive device found in the Limerick City area”.
“A cordon was put in place for the security and protection of residents in the area. Following an assessment of the device the EOD team it was found that the device was non-viable and has been handed over to AGS (A Garda Siochana) for investigation,” he added.
The scene was later reopened and no injuries were reported.
The army spokesman also issued a warning that “is not permitted to use photographs or imagery where the faces or any identifiable features of any members of the EOD team may be visible, for reasons of operational and personal security”.
A video of a bomb disposal robot operating near houses at Pike Avenue, which included the sound of a loud explosion, was shared on social media.
The Defence Forces and Gardaí said, in response to queries, that the device was not viable, however neither responded to follow queries asking if the device had exploded at the scene or if a controlled explosion was carried out on the device at the scene or at any other location.
