Device Found Outside PSNI Officer's Home In L'Derry

A number of homes have been evacuated after a device was found outside the home of a serving police officer in L'Derry.

The device was discovered under a car in the Culmore area on Wednesday, 22 February.

Army bomb disposal experts are currently at the scene which has been sealed off.

Policing Board Vice Chair Debbie Watters said: "I am grateful that the evil intent of those responsible for leaving this device did not succeed.

"This officer has had a very lucky escape but such activity reinforces the continuing threat that exists for our police officers both on and off duty.


"As a community it is our responsibility to ensure those behind such activity are brought to justice and I would urge anyone with information to bring it to the police or anonymously through Crimestoppers."

SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood said: "The cowards who targeted a police officer this morning have set themselves against the people of Derry and the people of Ireland. They are enemies of the Irish people. Their malicious and murderous attempt to bring violence back to our streets has failed before and it will fail again.

"They need to know, they need to be made understand that their fight is with us. It is with the Irish people and there only ever will be one winner in that battle.

"My thoughts are with the police officer and their family at what will undoubtedly be a difficult time. No one in this city or in this society should be threatened for the public service they provide."

Foyle Ulster Unionist Candidate, Julia Kee, said: "Once again we have been reminded that the threat posed by criminal and terrorist elements in Londonderry is very real.

"Whoever planted the device under a car outside the home of a police officer in Ardanlee, Culmore, was not only trying to kill that officer, they were also sending a message to the wider community in a bid to create a climate of fear.

"The people of Londonderry are no different to anyone else in Northern Ireland. They want to live and bring up their families in peace. They are concerned about jobs, family finances, education for their children and their health service.

"They also want to be policed by the PSNI and not be intimidated or threatened by self-appointed gangs of armed thugs. Northern Ireland has moved on and the days of physical force republicanism must also be consigned to the past."

Elsewhere, a security alert in Co Tyrone is ongoing after a suspicious object was discovered in the Sion Mills area.

No other information has been released.

(CD)