The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) recruitment event planned for the Everglades Hotel in Derry today (Friday) is going ahead despite the venue being bombed for holding previous such events.
The damaged entrance to the Everglades Hotel following last Friday’s firebomb attack.
Increased security is expected to be in place in and around the Prehen hotel which is hosting its third police “familiarisation” event since September.
A group calling itself the “IRA” claimed responsibility for last week’s firebomb attack which extensively damaged the hotel’s lobby area.
In a statement to the Belfast-based “Irish News” newspaper, the group said the hotel was targeted because it recently hosted a recruitment event for the PSNI and warned venues hosting similar events in the future would be treated as “legitimate targets.”
Local police commander, Chief Superintendent Stephen Cargin, said police were treating the threat “seriously” and given consideration to calling the event off but following consultation with the hotel’s owners had decided to go ahead with tomorrow’s event.
CS Stephen Cargin said a “measured degree of resources” would be applied to ensure the safety of those attending and the hotel and other venues hosting PSNI events.
The current recruitment campaign is the PSNI’s first in five years
Today’s “familiarisation” event is one of a number taking place across the North.
Information sessions begin and 10.00am and run throughout the day with the last taking place at 7.00pm.
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