THE IRISH DEFENCE Forces had to carry out a controlled explosion today after an unstable chemical was found at the offices of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) in Dublin this morning.

An Army Bomb Disposal Team was called to the offices of the PSI, which regulates pharmacy services in Ireland, on Shrewsbury Road after the unstable chemical Picric Acid was found this morning.

Responding to a request from gardaí, the team arrived on the scene just after 10am this morning and removed the chemical to a military range where it was destroyed by a controlled explosion.

Picric Acid is a chemical re-agent which is routinely used in laboratories but can crystallise and become unstable over time.

The Defence Forces says it was the 164th call out for its bomb disposal team this year and the 15th substance of concern that has been safely disposed of.

The PSI could not immediately be reached for comment.

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