Superintendent Amanda Cooke said a call was made warning of a suspect device
Hundreds of families in north Belfast have spent the night out of their homes because of a bomb alert.
The security operation in the city’s Oldpark area began on Tuesday afternoon and continued throughout Wednesday morning.
The police said nothing suspicious has been found yet but enquiries were continuing.
The alert, which has caused major disruption, followed a claim that a device had been abandoned in the area.
Parts of the Oldpark Road and Hillview Road have been closed.
Around 200 homes were evacuated, with facilities being provided at Ardoyne Community Centre.
BBC NI reporter Kevin Sharkey said a “major security operation” was in place.
He said a call had been logged with the Samaritans on Monday night saying a device was left in the area.
“Police are trying to find out if that is the case,” he added.
“Police are being very cautious, their big fear is that if they move too quickly there could be a trap of some kind.”
The Oldpark Road has been closed between Manor Street and Oldpark Avenue.
Rosapenna Street is closed from the Roseleigh Street junction.
The alert follows reports of a shooting incident in the Oldpark area on Monday night.
A number of shots were heard at Glenview Street off the Oldpark Road.
Bullet casings were found at the scene near the Oldpark Road, but no injuries have been reported.
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