Army bomb disposal experts have made safe a small explosive device outside the Dublin offices of Royal Dutch Shell.

A spokesman for Ireland's defence forces said the team had been called to the Corrib House on Leeson street shortly after 20:00 BST last night.

The area was cordoned off and a bomb disposal officer carried out a controlled explosion to make the "viable device" safe.

The 'bomb' was described as a "simple, improvised explosive device" and its remains are now being investigated.

Shell Ireland has reportedly described the incident as a "sinister development".

Shell operates the Corrib Natural Gas Field off the north-west coast of Ireland. The company's Irish headquarters has been a regular target of protesters against a pipeline in County Mayo.
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