PICTURE : MCAULEY MULTIMEDIA
Police are investigating a suspected car bomb that exploded outside a courthouse in the Bishop Street area of Derry / Londonderry this evening.
NIFRS, NIAS and PSNI are currently on scene.
It is believed the car was hi-jacked from a delivery driver earlier in the day.
Commenting on social media Naomi Long MLA said “Very disturbing news from L~Derry this evening. Hope that no-one is hurt. Police now reporting a second suspicious vehicle in the area.”
Witnesses say they heard a loud bang and a large plume of smoke. There has been no reports of any casualties as of 9pm.
The Police Service are warning people to stay away from the street. Bars and clubs in the area have been evacuated.
Sinn Féin MP Elisha McCallion has condemned a bomb attack at the courthouse in Derry.
The Foyle MP said:
“This incident has shocked the local community.
“In particular, there are many elderly residents who live in the area who have been alarmed by this incident.
“Thankfully no one appears to have been injured in this incident.
“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.”
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan tweeted: “Whoever is responsible for this explosion outside Bishop Street Courthouse in Derry clearly hasn’t got the message that the people of Derry DO NOT want this on our streets.
“We are trying to move Derry forward and will not let anyone drag us back to the dark days of the past.”
