Two viable explosive devices discovered outside head shops in Athlone, Co Westmeath were made safe by the Army today.
The bombs were discovered shortly after 10am outside two shops, located within 200 metres of one another at Mardyke and Sean Costello Street
Gardaí were alerted to the bombs by a staff member at one of the shops.
The Army bomb squad cordoned off the street and evacuated a number of homes and businesses in the area. Army bomb disposal officers then used a robot to disarm and remove the two devices for technical examination.
They were later confirmed as viable improvised explosive devices.
Gardaí in Athlone are carrying out door to door enquiries and examining CCTV.
They are the sixth and seventh improvised explosive devices (IED’s) to be made safe by bomb disposal teams this year.