Police Arrest Three As Bomb Plot Foiled

Timely police work in Londonderry has foiled a potentially deadly bomb plot.

The Alliance Justice Spokesperson Stewart Dickson has praised the police after a viable device was found in a car on the Buncrana Road on Monday afternoon.

His comments came after three men aged 54, 49 and 46 were arrested following the discovery.

The alert began on Monday afternoon at about 3pm when the PSNI stopped a car at Whitehouse on the Buncrana Road.

Commenting afterwards, the Area Commander Chief Inspector Jon Burrow said those responsible were "trying to drag us back to the past".

"The blame for any disruption yesterday lies squarely with the misguided individuals who were responsible for this bomb being on a busy road close to peoples' homes," he added.

"I am in no doubt had the device exploded it could have injured or maimed innocent members of the public and it is due to the efficient evacuations set in place in the surrounding areas that no-one came to any harm."

Army bomb experts were called to the scene and the area was cordoned off and later confirmed that the device was a bomb.

Stewart Dickson MLA added: "This is a deeply worrying incident and this is a very sinister discovery. I want to take this opportunity to praise police on their work in finding this bomb.

"This excellent police work has prevented a potentially devastating bomb attack, and the police deserve our gratitude for the difficult work they carry out.

"Those involved in activity of this nature must realise that they will not destabilise the progress we have made in building peace because society is, and will continue to be, determined to deliver a brighter future in Northern Ireland."

The SDLP Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey said the bomb on Monday night could have killed or maimed.

He said: "There's a sense of relief that police have been able to apprehend a bomb that had the potential to kill somebody.

"The disruption this caused to many people, including elderly, who could not gain access to their homes from early in the afternoon to almost midnight is unacceptable.

"It's obvious this was targeting somebody, although there is a sense of relief it has left a sinister taste.

"I appeal to anyone who has information of this to pass it to the police without delay," he concluded.

Alienating

Sinn Fein MLA Raymond McCartney has called on those responsible for the bomb intercepted on the Buncrana Road yesterday to reflect on their actions and disband immediately.

"I know it has been articulated many times before that there is no justification in the new political climate that has been created for any form of armed action.

"But if those behind this and other incidents have a logical analysis of what they hope to achieve then they have a responsibility to explain it to the people of Ireland.

"The vast majority of people not only in this city but across Ireland accept that the present institutions allow for all political philosophies to be pursued on an equal basis," he said.

"If these groups indeed have a political strategy then they should enter the political process, articulate their goals and aspirations and accept the verdict of the Irish people.

"Whatever political opinions these groups espouse they can be accommodated through the peaceful and democratic process that has been established.

"No campaign, political or otherwise can succeed by alienating the very people you claim to represent," concluded the former IRA prisoner.

(BMcC/CD)