Dissident republicans behind bomb attack bid
Dissident republicans abandoned a massive van bomb near the Foyle Bridge in Derry, a senior police officer said today.
The 600lb device, which was made safe by army bomb disposal experts, was primed and ready for use, said Chief Inspector George Brien.
“It is still at a very early stage in the investigation but it has all the hallmarks of a dissident republican device,” he said.
“It is similar in type to other devices used by that organisation and all recent attacks in the city have been carried out by dissident republicans.
“We don’t know yet what the target was. There are a number of possible targets in the city and the wider area but it is quite clear it was intended for an imminent attack.”
Police intercepted the bomb after noticing a vehicle acting suspiciously on the Foyle Bridge early today.
The red Toyota van was abandoned on the nearby Clooney Road and when police officers inspected it they found wires and a timer pack.
Army technical officers were called in and, after carrying out a controlled explosion, they discovered a large bomb packed into two blue barrels.
Mr Brien said most of the attacks carried out in the area by dissident republican groups in recent years were targeted at security bases.
He added that had the device exploded, it would have caused a massive amount of damage.
“Anybody in the vicinity at all would have been killed or very seriously injured,” he added.
