Dissidents behind Derry and Belfast bombs
Dissident republican grouping Óglaigh na hÉireann have claimed responsibility for two recent bomb attacks in Londonderry and west Belfast.
In the first attack, 110lb of home-made explosives were planted in a beer keg outside Bishop Street Courthouse in Derry on Sunday evening.
Then in the early hours of Monday, a so-called “coffee jar bomb” was thrown at police in the Falls area of west Belfast.
Neither device detonated, but Óglaigh na hÉireann have told journalist Brian Rowan the second attack was an attempt to kill police officers.
“That group, Óglaigh na hÉireann, the most dangerous dissident group, has said it was behind the two bomb incidents,” Mr Rowan told UTV.
“On the first incident they claim it contained 200lbs of explosives, mostly home-made and some of the high explosive semtex. The second they claim to have thrown a so-called coffee jar bomb at police which deflected into wasteland. They then made a call to Samaritans.”
Police in Londonderry said the courthouse device could have “killed or seriously” injured passers-by had it detonated, as well as causing considerable damage to nearby property.
It was made safe after a number of controlled explosions were carried out on Sunday evening.
Meanwhile the Belfast device was discovered behind Dwyer’s GAA club on Monday afternoon. A controlled explosion was carried out before it was removed for further examination.
Both incidents caused major disruption, with elderly residents moved out of a local fold overnight in Derry and around 30 homes evacuated on the Grosvenor Road in Belfast.
Justice Minister David Ford condemned the attacks, saying he is “thankful” no-one was hurt.
