Ministry of Defence deny British Army foot patrol claims
The Ministry of Defence have denied that British Army were on foot patrol last night in the Top of the Hill area of the Waterside.
Concerned Waterside residents contacted Newswire after saying they spotting the 8-strong patrol in the Sandville Terrace area at around 8pm on Wednesday night.
One said: “I was driving out of Derryview terrace and I spotted them coming down from Sandville Terrace and crossing over Corody Road towards Mimosa Court. I’m 100% sure it was the British Army. As I passed Annie’s Bar there was also a police foot patrol coming down Irish Street and another police patrol on Spencer Road.”
However a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence says there are no army patrols in Northern Ireland, unless they are conducting specialist searches.
A spokesperson for the MoD said: “There are no army patrols in Northern Ireland. Security is a matter for the PSNI.”
He also stated that just like in the rest of the UK the police can call for military support for matters such as specialist search and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD).
The PSNI confirmed that no military were requested or deployed in the city last night.
“Police conduct all patrolling and have no military accompaniment,” said a spokesperson. “The military are only requested in support of police for specific matters where there is technical expertise such as ATO.”
