Bombs outside Army base ‘close to homes’
Police have said two bombs which partially exploded outside an Army base in Londonderry endangered the lives of residents living nearby.
The improvised devices were left in bags at the perimeter fence of the Limavady Road Army Reserve Centre in Rockport Park.
Chief Inspector Tony Callaghan told UTV they were “about 20 or 30 metres away from homes in Caw Park and 40 metres away from homes in Rockport”.
The bombs were discovered at around 11pm on Sunday and partially detonated at around 11.35pm.
Residents living in 10 or 15 nearby homes, many of whom were elderly, were evacuated to a nearby community centre.
The two IEDs were defused before being taken away for further examination and the alert has now ended.
Tony Callaghan said the PSNI received no warning and local people’s lives were put in danger “due to close proximity of homes nearby.
He continued: “These devices were designed to do nothing less than kill or seriously injure anyone in the vicinity.
“There’s no doubt that had someone been nearby they would have been killed or seriously injured if the devices went off.”
Police are continuing to investigate the attack.
“Our enquiries are underway into how and when they were left at this location,” said the Chief Inspector.
“The IEDs which were contained within the two bags have now been taken away for forensic examination.
“An initial examination of CCTV footage in the area would indicate that the devices partially initiated at around 11.35pm last night, but failed to fully explode.
“No warning was received by police and with the close proximity of homes nearby, this was truly a reckless act which endangered local people’s lives.
“I would appeal to anyone who noticed any suspicious activity in the area recently or who has any information which may help police with our enquiries to contact officers at Strand Road on 101.”
