Dissident republicans blamed for Derry bombs
Police blame two Derry bomb blasts on dissident republicans, in what may be a campaign against the UK City of Culture title next year.
Over 70 elderly residents were forced to leave their sheltered accommodation, after police received a telephone warning at 7.30pm about two bombs yesterday evening.
No-one was injured by the explosions, which occurred shortly after 8pm, close to a tourist office and DHSS premises in the city centre.
The PSNI District Commander, Superintendent Stephen Martin, said that dissident republican groups were responsibl for the attacks.
“There’s no doubt the principal line of inquiry will be one of the republican groups – probably either the real IRA or Oglaigh na hEireann. I would be surprised if it wasn’t one of those,” he said.
“There is a severe threat in Northern Ireland, which means an incident like this can happen at any time and without warning. We are always prepared for this type of thing. CCTV will be a key line of inquiry.”
Derry is set to become the UK City of Culture in 2013. Dissident republicans have previously targeted the organising committee’s offices as well as a police station on the Strand Road.
The bombs went off in Foyle Street and Strand Road, about 10 minutes apart, and the area has been cordoned off to allow forensic examination.
Police at the time evacuated a major shopping centre and other businesses nearby. They warned that traffic would be disrupted for much of Friday as they work on their investigation.
Police Service of Northern Ireland district commander in the city, Chief Supt Stephen Martin, called the acts “reckless” and said his officers worked quickly to evacuate local residents and businesses.
These are the desperate actions of yesterday’s men. They seem to be more wedded to the struggle than to the cause they claim to be pursuing. Justice Minister David Ford
“The people in Derry do not want this disruption. It is cowardly and callous,” he said.
“People simply want to move on with their lives, not take a step back. Regrettably the whole community will once again suffer as a result of the needless actions of a few.”
Justice Minister David Ford said: “These are the desperate actions of yesterday’s men. They seem to be more wedded to the struggle than to the cause they claim to be pursuing.”
Condemnation from all sides
SDLP Foyle MP Mark Durkan called them “cowardly, destructive and totally unjustifiable”.
“I appeal to those responsible to cease their violent campaign and urge people with information about the perpetrators to pass any information they may have about these incidents onto the police urgently,” he said.
Sinn Fein Martina Anderson also condemned the attacks as “mindless actions of organisations that command miniscule support”.
“We now have the opportunity to realise our goals and aspirations through peaceful and democratic methods, through persuasion and force of argument instead of force of arms,” she said.
“Whatever organisation planted these bombs needs to come forward and explain how they believe that it has achieved anything other than disruption of older people who have had to be evacuated to a local hotel.”
Ulster Unionist leader Tom Elliott said he had no doubt dissidents were behind the attacks.
“These attacks further no cause. They will not create a single job or attract a single pound of investment,” he said. “Londonderry should be enjoying the limelight as the UK City of Culture (next year), yet instead some madmen seem to think it is an opportunity for them to seize some publicity.”
