The Army has stopped a bomb going off in Offaly

AN IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE bomb device was rendered safe this afternoon in Co Offaly.

The suspect device was found near a private residence, leading to the Defence Forces deploying the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team to its location.

The area was cordoned off and houses in the surrounding vicinity were evacuated for the safety of the residents.

Arriving at 2.15pm, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team were able to make the device safe at the scene without taking it away for a controlled explosion.

They later confirmed that the device had been viable.

The army has said that “items of an evidential nature” will be handed over to the gardaí.

With an operation that lasted exactly one hour, the scene was declared safe at 3.15pm.

Read: Coolock residents evacuated from homes after viable explosive found