LAST UPDATE | 31 Mar

A DELIVERY DRIVER was forced to drive a ‘crude but viable’ explosive device in his vehicle to a police station in Northern Ireland last night, in what is believed to have been an attack by dissident republicans. 

The delivery driver was able to alert staff at the police station that there was a bomb in his car, and a controlled explosion was carried out to make it safe. 

PSNI assistant chief constable Ryan Henderson described a “horrific and terrible ordeal” for the “terrified” delivery driver.

The incident has been condemned by politicians across the spectrum. 

The PSNI said the incident began last night at 10.30pm, when the driver was stopped by masked men in the Kilwilkie area of Co Armagh. 

Speaking to media outside Lurgan police station this afternoon, Henderson said the driver had been making a delivery when his car was hijacked by two masked men, one of whom was armed with a pistol.

“The man placed an object in the boot of his white Audi A4 car and the driver was ordered to drive it to Lurgan police station or he would be killed,” he said.

“The car was driven to the station, where the driver escaped and bravely ran to security staff telling them that there was a bomb in the car, a horrific and terrible ordeal for him.”

The white Audi was abandoned close to the police station, sparking a significant security operation with roads closed and residents of nearby homes evacuated.

Henderson described a “significant policing operation” overnight, with around 100 homes evacuated while a controlled explosion was carried out.

“Ammunition technical officers carried out a controlled explosion to make the vehicle safe and we now know that this was a crude but viable improvised explosive device,” he said.

“As unsophisticated as it was, it posed a significant risk to the life of the terrified delivery driver, our security staff and the local community.”

He said it was “highly likely” that dissident republicans were responsible for the “reckless and cowardly attack”.

“Our investigation is in its early stages, but at this stage we believe it’s highly likely that dissident republican groups are responsible,” he said.

Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the attack was carried out by people who “have nothing to offer our communities but harm, fear and disruption”. 

Former UUP leader Doug Beattie claimed the incident “bear the hallmarks of a proxy-bomb style attack.”

This bear the hallmarks of a proxy-bomb style attack.

This is an escalation in what is likely down to Republican terrorists.

Yet again it will be those they say they represent who will be most affected. And it will be the military and police keeping them safe. https://t.co/X6YiSlVpHx

— Doug Beattie (@BeattieDoug) March 31, 2026

Residents have been advised to avoid the area as investigations continue.

With reporting from Press Association and Christine Bohan