Security alerts spark traffic chaos

Roads were closed across Belfast with vehicles abandoned close to police stations in the north and west of the city, officers said. There is also disruption close to where hardline republicans murdered a policeman in Craigavon, Co Armagh, earlier this month.

First Minister Peter Robinson blamed dissidents who also killed two soldiers recently.

He said: "The criminal terrorists responsible for the series of bomb-scares and hijackings are beneath contempt and have no support whatsoever in the community. In recent weeks, Northern Ireland has sent these murderers the message loud and clear. We will not be dragged back into death and mayhem."

The M1 is shut city-bound close to the intersection with Lurgan, Co Armagh, due to an abandoned hijacked vehicle.

There are reports that two cars were hijacked in the nationalist Kilwilkie estate in Lurgan. Other incidents included the closure of North Queen Street close to the city centre because of an abandoned vehicle near the police station and the closure of Hillview Road in the Oldpark area due to an alert.

Police said there were reports drivers of hijacked vehicles in the Hillview and North Queen Street areas had their wallets stolen.

Mr Robinson added: "The whole community must stand together to defeat these criminals and I appeal to anyone with information regarding the perpetrators of these evil criminal acts to come forward and share that information with the police.

"These criminals will fail because of the resolve of the people of Northern Ireland. The people of our Province have spoken over recent weeks: those who would try to destabilise and destroy Northern Ireland will fail. We won't be going back.

"I would appeal for calm and restraint from everyone in the community. Let us all work with the police to bring these criminal murderers to justice and put them behind bars where they belong."