10/01/2018

Man Arrested Over Attempted Murder Of Off-Duty Police Officer

A man has been arrested in connection with the attempted murder of an off-duty police officer in Co L'Derry.

A viable under-car bomb was discovered outside a house in the Ardanlee area on 22 February last year.

Army bomb disposal experts attended the scene. No-one was injured.

The 41-year-old suspect was arrested in the Creggan area under the Terrorism Act.

He has been taken to Musgrave Serious Crime Suite to be questioned.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Peter McKenna, said: "If this device had exploded with our colleague and his young family in the car it would have had devastating consequences.

"Police believe the New IRA are responsible for this cowardly attack during which they put the safety of all members of the community at risk as the device was left in a residential area and could have exploded at any time.

"I would like to thank the public for their assistance to date but I believe there are still people in the community who hold vital pieces of information that could assist police and I would appeal to them to make contact with Detectives on 101 or alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime."

(CD/JP)

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