Bomb ‘hoax’ was real device

AN object in a hijacked vehicle originally described as a “hoax” was actually a viable device, police said yesterday.

The bomb was placed in the vehicle by three masked men before being a terrified delivery driver was forced at gunpoint to take it to Derry’s Waterside police station on Sunday.

The PSNI originally dismissed it as hoax. But yesterday Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton said: “Following further technical examination of the object recovered from a hijacked vehicle outside Waterside Police Station on Sunday evening, police can now confirm it was a viable explosive device.

“This further underlines the reckless and callous disregard by those responsible for the safety of the driver, the local community and the police officers who serve them.

“I would again appeal to anyone who was in the vicinity of Milldale Crescent in Curryneirin or in the vicinity of Waterside Police Station on Sunday evening around 10.30pm, to come forward with information on 101 or through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”.

It is unclear at this stage why officers initially thought it was a hoax.

Supt Clive Beatty his thoughts were with the delivery driver “forced at gunpoint to drive this device” to the police station. He added that any member of the wider community could have been hurt “had this device exploded prematurely”.