Residents have been evacuated due to a security alert in Newry on Thursday evening.
Police are currently at the scene in the Camlough Road area of the city.
A number of homes have been evacuated and police are asking members of the public to avoid the area at this time.
Sinn Féin Councillor Aidan Mathers said it is a “disgrace that a security alert in Newry is causing serious disruption for local people on a cold winter’s night”.
He said: “The Camlough road has been closed and some residents have been forced to evacuate their homes.
“This is disgraceful. The last thing people need is having to leave their homes on a cold winter’s night.
“I would urge the public to avoid the area at this time and I appeal to anyone with information on this incident to contact the police.”
10:30PM UPDATE: A security alert in the Camlough Road area of Newry has now ended.
The suspicious object has been declared to be nothing untoward. A number of cordons which were in place have now been lifted and all residents have returned to their homes.
