110lb bomb targets Derry courthouse
Police in Londonderry have said a device found outside the city’s courthouse was made up of 110lb of homemade explosives, hidden in a beer keg.
The bomb was found in a stolen vehicle abandoned outside Bishop Street courthouse.
Several controlled explosions were carried out on Sunday night.
A senior police officer said the bomb could have “killed and injured” and there was no doubt the courthouse was the intended target.
Chief Superintendent Stephen Martin said: “The bomb was made up of approximately 50kg of homemade explosives contained within a beer keg, contained within a stolen vehicle.”
Elderly residents from a local fold were evacuated following a telephone bomb warning, which was received at about 6.45pm on Sunday.
“I have heard many people talking about the distressing scenes of seeing vulnerable older people moved out of their homes,” Ch Supt Martin said.
“The people who planted this bomb knew they were going to disturb people from this home, so much so that they rang them to tell them about the bomb,” he added.
Forensic officers are spending the day examining the scene of the alert.
Police believe dissident republicans are behind the attack but so far no organisation has come forward with a claim of responsibility.
The area surrounding the courthouse remains cordoned off and Bishop Street is also closed to traffic, disrupting traffic, businesses, schools and court sittings.
“We are working very hard and very quickly to get the place back to normal”, Ch Supt Martin said.
