Pipebomb left outside 'head shop'
Bomb disposal experts today carried out a controlled explosion on a pipebomb left outside a so-called "head shop".
Gardai called the Army's explosive ordnance disposal team to Yutopia store on Pearse Road, Letterkenny, Co Donegal, after the viable device was discovered outside the front door around 1am.
Several homes in the area were evacuated until the area was declared safe at 6.20am.
A Defence Forces spokesman said 16 viable devices have been dealt with so far this year.
The pipebomb is the latest in a series of incidents at head shops, which have caused controversy for their sale of legal highs.
Earlier this month the Yutopia store on Connolly Street in Sligo was damaged by fire and two viable improvised explosive devices were discovered outside head shops in Athlone, Co Westmeath.
Two separate Dublin head shops were set ablaze in suspected arson attacks last month.
Residents nationwide have also staged protests outside head shops, while residents in Clontarf, north Dublin, secured a court order against the opening of a store.
Meanwhile bomb disposal experts were called to a second incident in Bridgend, close to the border with Northern Ireland, following reports a hijacked vehicle had been abandoned. It was later declared a hoax.
Senator Cecilia Keaveney called for more co-operation with the cross border bomb squad in the North West region.
"A number of months ago I called for the reinstatement of the bomb squad facility in Finner Camp," said the Donegal North East representative.
"I was told that the level of activity was lower in our area than in other places and so Athlone was a more central base for them. It may well be time to look at co-operation in the North and West in relation to this resource.
"We want to see an end to dissident activity so that we no longer need to talk about bomb squads, but in the meantime we need to have a response that can enable devices to be dealt with in as speedy a manner as possible."
Press Association
