By Burak Bir
LONDON (AA) - Some 450 homes in County Down, Northern Ireland have been evacuated following the discovery of a suspected World War II-era bomb, police said Sunday.
The "suspected historic piece of munition" was found Friday at the Rivenwood housing development in Newtownards, forcing the evacuation of a large number of homes, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said in a statement.
Local councilor Pete Wray confirmed that it is a suspected Second World War bomb and described the situation as "complex."
"We now know the device is a German World War II munition,' added Wray.
Ards and North Down District Commander Superintendent Johnston McDowell said a police cordon is in place and motorists are advised to avoid the area.
"It is anticipated at this stage that the operation will continue for a number of days," he noted.
In February, a World War II-era bomb found in the southwestern English port city of Plymouth was detonated under control.