GRIEVING relatives have been left angry after two semi-automatic handguns were left two guns inside a car in Derry City Cemetery.
British Army Technical Officers carried out a controlled explosion on the car in the cemetery on the Lone Moor Road shortly before midnight last night.
The car was parked near the grave plots of recently deceased Derry residents.
After its discovery on Wednesday afternoon, relatives visiting family graves were evacuated from the cemetery for their own safety.
Relatives have described those who abandoned the car with guns inside as “scum” who had “no regard or regard for those visiting the cemetery or those buried there”.
Follow up searches were carried out today in the graveyard but nothing further was found.
It is the third weapon to be seized by police in the North West in a week.
Last weekend, a military style assault rifle and ammunition capable of piercing bricks was uncovered in Strabane.
Derry police chief Supt Mark McEwan said the handguns uncovered are being linked to violent dissident republican activity.
“I am thankful that these weapons were now out of circulation.
“This is a sensitive area to carry out these operations and shows the disregard for the community on the part of those involved in this type of activity.
“In the district, this is the third firearm we have taken out of circulation this week.
“These are weapons that are made and possessed with one purpose in mind and that is to kill or cause serious injury to people.”
Debris lies on the road following a controlled explosion on a car found to have two guns onboard
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