Child of 6 lifted bomb remains and it was put on kitchen table Mum targeted for having Catholic friends
THE mother of a young boy who picked up the remains of an exploded pipe bomb believes the attack was sectarian.
She spoke out after the device was carried into her home by the six-year-old on Tuesday night as she was eating dinner with her twin toddler daughters.
Police believe it had detonated prior to being lifted by the youngster in the Curlew Way area of Derry’s Waterside.
The mum of three, who is too frightened to be identified, said: “I think I was targeted because of religion. This is a Protestant area. I was born and raised here.
“I have people from across the town, Catholic friends, who come to my house and obviously people around here don’t agree with that, so this is the outcome. It’s ridiculous, but what can I do?
“I’m terrified and I don’t want to stay here with my children. I want out.”
She added the pipe bomb was left on her kitchen table as she put her children to bed before she contacted police.
PSNI Det Insp Michael Winters said: “While this was not a live device, the fact a young boy found it and lifted it shows the blatant disregard by those responsible for leaving it there. It was completely reckless.”
Sinn Fein Cllr Christopher Jackson believed those responsible “showed absolutely no regard for the public”.
He added: “Those responsible for this pipe bomb attack have nothing to offer the community and need to end these actions immediately.”
The chair of the Derry and Strabane Policing and Community Safety Partnership Councillor Sandra Duffy said: “This type of activity has no place in our city and should not be tolerated.
“It is clear that whoever carried out the attack had absolutely no concern for people living in the area and their only aim is to try and exert coercive control of the people residing there.”