Irish tourist offices worldwide were put on bomb alert yesterday after an explosive device was delivered in the mail to the headquarters of Dublin Tourism.

Streets in the Irish capital were sealed off before Irish Army bomb disposal experts made the device safe.

The alert began when staff at the tourism centre in Dublin's Suffolk street found a package they were opening contained wires and batteries.

There was no claim of responsibility for the incident, but there were signs of an Ulster paramilitary link.

The video-case packet - delivered just three days ahead of voting in the Northern Ireland peace deal referendums - was apparently mailed from Ulster.

Irish Army experts confirmed that it contained explosive material, and had been packed with ball-bearings.

A senior police source said the device was clearly designed to maim or kill.

Bomb sent to tourist office