Derry device found ‘after five days
A device at the centre of a security alert at a Londonderry leisure complex may have been there for at least five days, UTV understands.
The city’s Templemore Sports Complex was evacuated on Thursday night, while election votes were being counted in the building.
A warning had been received, stating that a bomb had been left in the building but nothing was found during searches.
A further call on Tuesday from those claiming to be behind the alert gave different information about the device’s location and the building was cleared again while checks were carried out.
This time, a partial device was found by police in the ceiling panel of the ground-floor toilet. It was removed by army bomb experts, but police say it could not have exploded – UTV understands the device did not include a detonator.
More than two dozen schoolchildren were evacuated from the leisure complex’s swimming pool during the alert.
SDLP Councillor Mark H Durkan has condemned those responsible for leaving the object.
“Those responsible for planting this device have once again caused great distress and fear – especially for the local schoolchildren who had to be evacuated from the swimming pool”, he said.
“Children had to be taken back to school with their clothes still in the building.
“The victims today have been schoolchildren. The other night they were old-age pensioners. Those responsible have clearly shown they do not care about those who suffer as a result of their actions.”
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