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Ongoing security alert prompts school closure

Michael Fitzpatrick
BBC News NI
BBC A forensic officer in a white suits walks towards a row of garages with his back to the camera. There is a white and red police tape blocking of entry to the garages which have white and brown roller doors. There is a brown brick wall next to the forensic officer. Beside the camera is a yellow and blue police car.BBC
The security alert is taking place in Benmore area

A school in south Belfast has been closed due to an ongoing security alert.

The security alert is taking place in the Benmore area of Finaghy, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said.

In a statement, Finaghy Primary said it was closed on the advice of police due to "unforeseen circumstances".

Cordons are in place and police have advised the public to avoid the area.

Alana Anderson has short blonde hair and has makeup on. She is wearing a green shirt jacket and a white t-shirt. Dorothy Anderson has long brown hair and is wearing a brown cardigan with a silver necklace. Behind them is a metal railing.
Residents Alana Anderson (left) and Dorothy Anderson (right)

A Benmore resident, Dorothy Anderson said her daughter, who lives in Geeragh Place, knocked on her door at "about half five, quarter to six".

"The police had come and evacuated her from her house and basically, there was something up."

Ms Anderson said she heard what she believed to be a controlled explosion.

"It was just a really large bang, which I was used to hearing during the seventies, so I knew what it was."

She added that at about 07:00 BST her daughter received a call in which police said she could return home.

'Takes you back'

Another resident, Alana Anderson said: "I heard nothing until I went to work and the school was closed."

She said the school had sent a message at about 07:00 BST but she missed it due to her phone "playing up".

She saw a couple of children arriving at school and "they told them to go back home".

Ms Anderson said the security alert "takes you back to years ago".

Ms Gracey has long brown hair, is wearing makeup and has brown round glasses on. She is smiling at the camera as she wears a brown buttoned top.
A parent of a pupil at Finaghy Primary said the alert was 'a lot' for children to experience at a young age

Nicole Gracey, the parent of a P6 pupil at Finaghy Primary, said the alert had caused a lot of disruption.

"It's a lot for kids to experience at a young age," she said.

"Thankfully I was off work, but again working parents are having to take days off work and then you're having to sit your child down and explain why they're not going in to school, especially older kids. They know more than what we think."