Ahead of the Queen making her historic visit to Republic of Ireland, bomb disposal experts have made safe a “viable” improvised explosive device near Dublin.

It follows a coded threat to Scotland Yard from republican dissidents yesterday (MON).

The Queen is due to make the first visit to the Republic of Ireland by a British monarch today (May 17)

Queen

The discovery follows a massive security operation in and around Dublin after a bomb threat was issued by republican dissidents.

Irish police said up to 4,000 people were involved in the ongoing security operation for the four-day trip.

Queen trip

It is the first British monarch’s visit to Republic of Ireland since the country’s independence and comes as the country is experiencing renewed dissident republican violence.

King George V was the last reigning monarch to visit, in 1911, when what is now the Republic of Ireland was then part of the UK.