Pipe-shaped device found outside Newry Sinn Féin office

A viable explosive device described as a metal, pipe-shaped object was discovered outside the Sinn Féin constituency office on Monaghan Street in Newry — premises used by MP Dáire Hughes and Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins — after a report just before midnight on Sunday, 5 October. Army Ammunition Technical Officers/bomb experts made the device safe using a specialist machine, recovered it for further examination, and police cordons were later lifted with the road reopened. Sinn Féin leaders, including First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Mr Hughes, condemned the incident as a “cowardly” attack on democracy and vowed not to be intimidated. The PSNI launched an investigation, thanked local people for their patience, and asked anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage to contact Ardmore via the non-emergency 101 number quoting reference 1648 05/10/25. Authorities said the immediate focus remained on the safety of local residents, staff and others in the area.