Simon Coveney: Woman released after Coveney security alert arrest
- Published
Simon Coveney was notified of the alert by his team shortly after he began speaking
A woman has been released after she was arrested following a security alert which led to the Irish foreign minister being evacuated from a venue in north Belfast.
Simon Coveney was giving a peace-building talk at the Houben Centre, on the Crumlin Road, when the hijacking and security alert happened on Friday.
A man arrested following the incident remains in custody.
Police carried out searches on Saturday in north Belfast.
A number of items, including a suspected firearm, were recovered.
The 38-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances, possession and concealing criminal property and possession of a Class B drug with intent to supply.
She has been released on police bail pending further inquiries.
Police said the 41-year-old man, who was arrested under the Terrorism Act remained in custody.
Roads around the venue remained closed on Friday afternoon
Detectives have blamed loyalist paramilitaries for the security alert.
They said a van was hijacked in Sydney Street West off the Shankill Road in west Belfast between 09:00 and 10:00 GMT on Friday.
The van driver was threatened by two gunmen and forced to drive the vehicle to another street, where a device was placed in the van.
He was then forced to drive to Holy Cross Church near the Houben Centre, sparking the evacuation.