Latest: Residents evacuated after suspected car bomb attack in Derry

Sat, 19 Jan, 2019 - 22:11

Digital Desk staff

Latest: Residents have been evacuated after a suspected car bomb exploded in Derry.

The PSNI as well as firefighters and the ambulance service sealed off the scene close to a courthouse on Bishop Street in the city.

Handout photo taken from the PSNI Twitter page @PSNIDCSDistrict of the scene of a suspected car bomb on Bishop Street in Derry.

Witnesses earlier said they heard a loud bang and saw a large plume of smoke.

Local residents, including those in a sheltered housing complex for elderly people, are being evacuated.

The vehicle was consumed by flames (Steven McAuley/PA)

A photograph was tweeted from a PSNI Twitter account warning people to stay away from the area.

The scene of a suspected car bomb on Bishop Street in Derry. (Steven McAuley/PA)

A further update was posted on the PSNI’s Foyle Facebook page.

PSNI officers sealed off the area following the explosion (Steven McAuley/PA)

Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster said it was a “pointless act of terror” which “must be condemned in the strongest terms”.

“Only hurts the people of the City. Perpetrated by people with no regard for life,” she said.

“Grateful to our emergency services for their swift actions which helped ensure there have been no fatalities or injuries.

This pointless act of terror must be condemned in the strongest terms. Only hurts the people of the City.
Perpetrated by people with no regard for life.
Grateful to our emergency services for their swift actions which helped ensure there have been no fatalities or injuries. https://t.co/IMJ7Dn9rAa
— Arlene Foster DBE PC #ProudofNI. (@ArleneFosterUK) January 19, 2019

Sinn Fein Foyle MP Elisha McCallion has condemned the explosion.

“This incident has shocked the local community,” she said. “In particular, there are many elderly residents who live in the area who have been alarmed.

“Thankfully no-one appears to have been injured.

Very disturbing news from L~Derry this evening. Hope that no-one is hurt. Police now reporting a second suspicious vehicle in the area.

Please follow police advice: avoid the area around Bishop Street Courthouse and stay safe while @PSNIDCSDistrict do their job. https://t.co/pOdpGGorjb
— Naomi Long MLA (@naomi_long) January 19, 2019

“Derry is a city moving forward and no-one wants this type of incident. It is not representative of the city.

“I would encourage anyone with information about this incident to bring it to the police.”

Local Democratic Unionist MLA Gary Middleton condemned the incident as a “disgraceful act of terrorism”.

“PSNI have confirmed there were no injuries in the serious incident at Bishops Street,” he said.

“Vehicle hijacked with explosion outside courthouse. Disgraceful act of terrorism.”

PSNI have confirmed there were no injuries in the serious incident at Bishops Street. Vehicle hijacked with explosion outside courthouse. Disgraceful act of terrorism. pic.twitter.com/X0YoUT7ZUb
— Gary Middleton MLA 🎗️ (@Gary_Middleton) January 19, 2019

Alliance Party leader Naomi Long has also voiced her concern about the incident on Twitter, describing it as “very disturbing news”.

The incident happened just a few miles from the border ahead of the 100th anniversary of the war of independence.

The first shots of the war were fired at Soloheadbeg, Co Tipperary on January 21 1919.

Violent dissident republican groups have been responsible for a number of murders over the last 10 years.

Sappers Patrick Azimkar 21 (left) and Mark Quinsey, 23, who were shot dead outside the Massereene Barracks, Antrim, Northern Ireland in 2009. (MOD/PA)

Dissidents were also responsible for the murders of prison officers David Black in 2012 and Adrian Ismay in 2016.

There have also been a number of narrow misses, including the maiming of Constable Peadar Heffron in 2010, when an undercar booby trap bomb left him seriously injured.- Press Association