Three men arrested after bombs found in Londonderry

A bomb alert in Northern Ireland led to the evacuation of many citizens from their homes on Sunday night

17:36 04 March 2013

 

Three men have been arrested by police following a bomb alert in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, where four mortar bombs were recovered. The alert took place on Sunday night and the males are all believed to be their thirties.

 

 

Two of the men were taken in by police at the scene, with the third man later being arrested. This follows the mortar bombs being found in a van.

SDLP Pat Ramsay from the Northern Ireland Assembly told the BBC that: “It was an intelligence-led operation. Police intercepted a van, possibly another vehicle and, as a result, three men were arrested.”

 

He added: “It is a main cross-border route, one can presume it (the van) was coming from the border. It caused serious disruption for people in the Brandywell.”

 

Based on reports, it is thought that the failed bomb plan could be linked to dissident Republicans.

 

As a result of the alert, up to 100 people were evacuated from their homes. This related to the Letterkenny Road area. Certain roads were closed because of the incident, and as of time of press some have not been re-opened yet.

 

Londonderry is Northern Ireland’s second biggest city, and is one of Ireland’s top five largest cities. It is situated north-west of Belfast, and is also known as Derry.