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Delivery driver threatened at gunpoint in security alert

Jessica LawrenceBBC News NI
BBC A police officer stands with his back to the camera and is stood near a grey, unmarked police car. There is a police cordon closing off the station and a white Audi car in the distance in the station.BBC
The alert is centred around the police station in Lurgan town centre

A delivery driver was threatened at gunpoint and told to drive a vehicle carrying a suspicious device to a police station in Lurgan, the police have confirmed.

Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the hijacking took place on Monday evening in the Kilwilkie estate in the town.

The vehicle, a white Audi, was then abandoned outside Church Place in the County Armagh town, triggering a security alert.

About 100 homes were evacuated as a result of the incident, and an initial controlled explosion has taken place.

Police said previously cordoned off roads in the town centre have reopened and residents have returned home.

'Terrifying ordeal'

Speaking to BBC News NI's Good Morning Ulster programme, Henderson said at about 22:30 BST on Monday, a fast food delivery driver was "forced to stop their vehicle and threatened at gunpoint" in the Deramore Drive area of the town.

The man was threatened and drove the car, carrying a device placed by the hijackers, to the police station near Church Place, where he later escaped and alerted staff to the situation.

Henderson said it was an "absolutely terrifying ordeal for the poor man who was forced to drive the car" and it was a "hugely disruptive and a distressing event" for the local community in Lurgan.

"There's been a really significant policing operation that we've been cooperating overnight to make sure the car and the contents of the car were secure and safe," he added.

PA Media A still of Lurgan police station with a the front of a white Audi car parked inside the station. There is a brown piece of paper covering the license plate. There is a red cordon closing off the station. In the distance is a police officer standing with their back turned to the camera.PA Media
A delivery driver was forced to drive his white Audi to Lurgan police station

Henderson said its too early to tell if the device was viable, but officers were treating it as such.

He described it as a "sinister development" that nobody in Lurgan or beyond would welcome.

Lurgan residents 'frightened'

Lurgan Town Hall, located a short walk away from the police station, was opened up to those who were displaced from the homes due to the alert.

Paul Henderson said police came to his home just after 01:00 BST on Tuesday morning telling him he had to evacuate due to a "bomb scare".

"I was in total shock - I had literally just fallen asleep," he told BBC News NI.

Paul Henderson stands outside Lurgan town hall. He is an older man with a shaved head. He is looking at the camera with a neutral expression on his face and is wearing a black zip up jacket.
Paul Henderson spent the night at Lurgan Town Hall following the alert

Henderson said he was one of about 50 others who spent the night in Lurgan Town Hall.

He said there was a family with a young child in the hall when he arrived, and added it was "very frightening" to get a knock on the door at that time.

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Carla Lockhart told Good Morning Ulster those behind the alert knew it would cause "maximum disruption" and that it has caused "utter mayhem".

"Obviously it's grim that when we think in 2026 that this is the type of activity that some people want to try and engage in," she said.

"My thoughts are very much with the individual whose vehicle was hijacked."

Carla Lockhart stands outside Lurgan police station. She is a middle aged woman with long, blonde hair and she is wearing a colourful, star patterned scarf. She is also wearing a black coat. She is looking at the camera with a neutral expression on her face.
Carla Lockhart says there should be complete condemnation from all political parties

Lockhart added those responsible want to bring Lurgan back to its "former days", but that is not want local people want.

"Lurgan has moved on and sadly there's a small nucleus of people who want to agitate and drag it back," she said.

"It's not what people are at, it's not what people want – what people want is to be a society."

Pacemaker A forensic officer dressed in white with blue gloves on walks across a road with their head down. In the distance is a street sign for North Street in Lurgan town centre.Pacemaker
Forensic officers attended the scene on Tuesday morning

'Hallmarks of dissident republican attack'

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Jon Burrows said the attack "bears all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack, probably carried out by dissident republicans".

He described it as a "reckless attack", which could have potentially endangered local people and officers.

Many of those evacuated would have included families with young children, those with disabilities and elderly people, Burrows added, and that many officers are "risking their lives" to protect the public.

"I think it's a reminder that while they've been heavily infiltrated and dismantled, there still remains lethal intent and capability of dissident republicans," he said.

A satellite map view of Lurgan town centre. There are labels showing the roads affected by the security alert, including Church Place, North Street, Church Walk and Wellington Street. There is a red label showing the location of the police station and a label for the train station nearby.

Upper Bann assembly member (MLA) John O'Dowd said the people behind the incident "represent no one but themselves, and stand isolated from the community".

"Progress will not be stymied by these people, Lurgan will continue to move forward.

"I want to once again thank all those who helped and offered shelter to those families who were out of their homes as a result of this alert."

The Sinn Féin minister also offered his solidarity to the delivery driver who went through a "terrifying experience".

Justice Minister Naomi Long said it is a "shameful and dangerous attack" which has put lives at risk.

"There is absolutely no place for this utterly reckless and abhorrent behaviour," the Alliance party leader said.

Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) leader Claire Hanna said the use of a gun in the hijacking was "very concerning".

"The people behind this showed absolutely no regard for the driver, the local community or police officers, whose lives could have been put at risk," she said.