Police in Northern Ireland are dealing with a number of security alerts.
One alert was sparked after an abandoned vehicle was reported on the Northland Road, close to the Glenbank Road junction, in Co Derry.
People are being asked to avoid the area.
Folks we are responding to a report of an abandoned vehicle on the Northland Road close to the Glenbank Road junction. Please avoid the area at the time. #PSNI
— PSNI DC&S District (@PSNIDCSDistrict) January 21, 2019
There are also road closures in an area of north Belfast due to the discovery of a suspicious object.
They are affecting the Springfield Road and Lanark Way in the city.
Road closures are in place on the Springfield Road and Lanark Way in north Belfast due to the discovery of a suspicious object. There are no further details at present.
— PSNI North Belfast (@PSNIBelfastN) January 21, 2019
Earlier, a controlled explosion was carried out on a hijacked vehicle in the Circular Road area of Derry.
A number of homes were evacuated and cordons put in place.
The vehicle was hijacked by four masked men at 1:45pm this afternoon.
The two occupants of the van were ordered to drive it to the Lonemoor Road and leave it there.
ATO have carried out a controlled explosion on the hijacked vehicle in the Circular Road area of Derry/Londonderry.
A number of homes remain evacuated and cordons remain.
We continue to ask the public for their patience, and thank them for their co-operation.— PSNI DC&S District (@PSNIDCSDistrict) January 21, 2019
It comes two days after a car bomb exploded outside a courthouse in Derry city centre.
Speaking on Sunday, PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said it was very lucky nobody died.
"We had a bomb being moved past people's homes: [it was] a highly unstable crude device that could have detonated at any time.
"Thankfully the local community and the police service acted bravely together and we got everybody away, just in time."
The car bombing has been widely condemned by politicians from both sides of the border.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar described it as an "appalling, reckless and cynical act of terror", adding: "Violence to achieve political objectives has been rejected by the people of this island again and again."
Two of five people arrested in connection with the blast have been released without charge.
Additional reporting: Jack Quann
