Forensic teams examining the wreckage of a a van in which a device exploded near the courthouse in Derry on Satruday night
As Derry Daily reported earlier, police have been carrying out searches of a number of homes in Creggan in connection with Saturday night’s bomb attack.
Saoradh, the political wing of the ‘New IRA’ believed to have carried out the ‘mine’ bomb attack, earlier said a number of men had been arrested in Creggan this morning.
As a result of the early morning raids, two people have been detained under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act.
Police say the suspects are both in their 20s.
They have been taken to the serious crime custody suite at Musgrave PSNI station in Belfast.
Police condemned what is believed to have been a bomb attack on the city’s courthouse as “unbelievably reckless”.The PSNI received a warning before the explosion.
Locals reported hearing one and possibly a second loud bang.
Forensic officers move in as part of search operation in Creggan
Today Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said: “At around 7.55pm last night officers on patrol in Bishop Street spotted a suspicious vehicle and were making checks when, around 5 minutes later, information was received that a device had been left at the courthouse.
“We moved immediately to begin evacuating people from nearby buildings including hundreds of hotel guests, 150 people from the Masonic Hall and a large number of children from a church youth club.
The device exploded at 8.10pm.
Police said the vehicle used in the explosion was hijacked from a delivery driver in Quarry Street a short time before the blast.
“This attack was unbelievably reckless. Thankfully the attackers failed to kill or injure any members the local community out socialising and enjoying the best of what the city has to offer”, Assistant Chief Constable Hamilton said.
“The people responsible for this attack have shown no regard for the community or local businesses.
Police cordon off streets in Derry on Saturday night following van bomb explosion
The PSNI is appealing to anyone with information to please get in touch with them on the 101 number.
Alternatively, information can be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on freephone 0800 555 111.
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