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Il costo della bomba di Derry

DERRY COUNTS COST OF CAR BOMB BLAST

Derry’s top police officer says the cost of Tuesday’s dissident car bomb attack on Strand Road PSNI Station will run into “many hundreds of thousands of pounds.”

Derry, Strand RoadChief Inspector Chris Yates made the comment yesterday afternoon as business owners whose premises were damaged in the blast saw at first hand the extent of the damage caused by the 200lb car bomb planted by Óglaigh na h’Éireann.

Security cordons on roads around the police station were lifted yesterday although metal gates still sealed off the stretch of Strand Road where the bomb went off.

It is thought some of the buildings which bore the brunt of the blast may have to be demolished following an examination by structural engineers.

The police station itself also sustained substantial damage with the heavy metal gate fronting Strand Road visibly buckled with several holes caused by flying shrapnel.

While business owners were left counting the cost of the bomb attack, CI Yates said the damage to commercial property was “extensive.”
“I’m not an expert but I would expect that it is going to run into many hundreds of thousands of pounds,” he said.

“The buildings still need to be structurally accessed to see what needs to be pulled down but it is clear that the damage is extensive.”
The senior police officer said it was “pure luck” that no one was killed in the explosion.

“Anyone who sees the damage caused can tell that this was reckless and it is very fortunate that no one was killed.”

One business owner, Kevin Doherty from Strand Bingo, says it could take a week before his premises can be reopened.

He revealed that the roof of his building was damaged and several windows were broken.

“We’re dealing with a lot of electronics and there are holes in the roof – water and electric don’t go together very well,” he said.
CI Yates also renewed his appeal for information on the bombing, particularly the hijacked taxi which was used to ferry the bomb to the police station.

“We are appealing for specific information about the movements of the silver Mazda 626 from the Bogside to Strand Road in the early hours of Tuesday morning from 2.30 onwards. Anyone out there who saw anything or heard anything should get in touch with us.”

Meanwhile police have also confirmed officers carried out searches in the Hatmore Park area of the city on the Thursday night as part of the investigation.

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René Querin

Di professione grafico e web designer, sono appassionato di trekking e innamorato dell'Irlanda e della sua storia. Insieme ad Andrea Varacalli ho creato e gestisco Les Enfants Terribles.

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