Lurgan Evacuated After Hijacked Van Left at Police Station

A major security alert unfolded in Lurgan, County Armagh, early Tuesday morning when a pizza delivery driver was threatened at gunpoint and forced to drive his vehicle, containing a suspicious object, to the local police station, prompting the evacuation of around 100 homes and the closure of several central streets.

The incident began shortly after midnight near the Church Place area, according to the Police Service of Northern Ireland. The driver was coerced in the Kilwilkie estate, where the van was hijacked and the object placed inside before being abandoned outside Lurgan Police Station. Bomb disposal experts responded promptly, conducting a controlled explosion on the vehicle to neutralize any potential threat. No injuries were reported, but the operation led to widespread disruption in the town center.

Police established cordons around Church Place, Church Walk, and Wellington Street, while sections of Market Street, William Street, and North Street were also shut to traffic. Authorities urged motorists and residents to avoid the area, with the closures expected to last until at least lunchtime. To support those displaced, Lurgan Town Hall was opened as a refuge,...