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Apple workers in Ireland have been allowed to return to work after thousands were evacuated following a reported bomb scare.

Police were called to the Apple factory at Hollyhill in Cork at around 9am today to search the premises.

Following the security alert, Apple also evacuated its two other facilities at Lavitts Quay and Model Farm Road and police searched them.

Nothing was found and employees have now returned to work, a police spokeswoman has confirmed.

The spokeswoman also said that an army bomb disposal team had not been called to the scene.

The iPhone maker employs 5,000 people in the southern Irish county of Cork.

Passers-by took to social media to share photos of the scene.

In November last year Microsoft almost 2,000 staff at its headquarters in Germany were evacuated following a bomb threat.

Local media reported that the company received a threatening call which prompted the evacuation.

However investigating officers believe it was a hoax.

The Microsoft headquarters building is in Munich, based in the Lohhof area about 19km north of the city in an area populated largely by industrial parks.