FIRST Minister Arlene Foster is calling for people on both sides of the Border to work with the authorities to find the people behind the recent security alert on the Fermanagh-Cavan Border, which she described as an "utterly futile act".

Ten days after the first report of a security alert in the Wattlebridge area of Newtownbutler was raised (on January 13), the PSNI confirmed that it had concluded on Sunday, January 24.

A device that was discovered at a bus shelter in the area has been declared a hoax, with four rounds of ammunition also recovered. They have now been taken away for forensic examination.

At this stage, police say it is too early to determine if any weapons were fired, as has been claimed.

The Continuity IRA (CIRA) claimed that it had fired shots at a police helicopter; however, police raised the possibility it may well have been a civilian helicopter that was targeted.

South Area Commander, Chief Superintendent Andy Freeburn, said: “I can confirm that the security alert has now ended and all roads have reopened. I would like to thank the local community for their patience and support.

“This was a challenging and complex operation, made all the more difficult by the weather conditions.

"I would also like to thank our officers, our colleagues in An Garda Síochána, and army bomb disposal experts for their assistance and expertise.

“No community should have to live under the threat of such violence and we will now focus upon our investigation. We would ask anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area from January 13 to get in contact with us at 101.”

Commenting on the conclusion of the security alert on the Border, First Minister, DUP Leader and Fermanagh South Tyrone MLA Arlene Foster said: "I commend the police for how they have handled this alert both in working with the community on both sides of the Border, and also protecting officers from walking into an ambush.

"It is deeply concerning that there are people still in that area who want to kill police officers.

"They still don’t get it that terrorism failed to achieve anything other than headache and broken homes in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s."

Mrs. Foster commented that the alert was an "utterly futile act" that only served to tie up police resources and disrupt people who live in the area going about their normal business.

She added: "The people living around Newtownbutler are good people. I know many of the families, having grown up in the area.

"They have no truck with the people who want to shoot police officers, or shoot down helicopters.

"I appeal to those salt of the earth people on both sides of the Border to work with the police to find the people behind these alerts, and remove them from our streets,” said Mrs. Foster.