BELFAST, May 7 (Reuters) - Army bomb disposal experts have destroyed a "viable device" left in a car outside an election count centre in Northern Ireland as voters took part in the British vote, police said on May 7.
A Police Service of Northern Ireland spokeswoman said an explosive device was found in a car abandoned outside the building in Derry, the second biggest city in the British-ruled province.
Police closed roads, evacuated the centre and some nearby houses and cordoned off the area while the army destroyed the device in a controlled explosion.
The counting of ballot papers from two electoral districts at the Templemore Sports Complex was suspended for nearly two hours before resuming after police gave the all-clear.
"Army technical officers have examined the vehicle and have declared that it contained a viable device," a police spokeswoman said. "Roads have been reopened, but the car park remains closed and the count continues."
Most of the main Northern Irish paramilitary groups have surrendered their weapons but Republican dissidents who oppose British rule in the province remain active and there has been an uptick in attempted attacks over the past few months.
They killed two British soldiers and a policeman last year and have carried out several car bomb attacks since then.
A 1998 peace deal ended Northern Ireland’s "Troubles", in which 3,600 people were killed.
