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Londonderry bombing: Granddaughter walked past Derry bomb | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The grandfather of a 14-year-old girl who walked past the Derry bomb shortly before it exploded has said she came "within minutes" of death. | |
Alfie McAleer's granddaughter was filmed on CCTV walking with friends on Bishop Street on Saturday night, just feet from the car which later blew up. | |
Prime Minister Theresa May has condemned the bombing in the Commons. | |
Meanwhile, the Army was called to two further security alerts in the city on Monday involving reported hijackings. | |
Army bomb disposal officers carried out a controlled explosion in Creggan's Circular Road after a vehicle was hijacked by three masked men at 11:30 GMT on Monday. | |
A second alert on Southway, also in Creggan, followed reports of a vehicle being hijacked by four masked men at 13:45 GMT. | |
Saturday's bomb exploded outside the city's courthouse on Bishop Street shortly after a pizza delivery vehicle was hijacked at gun point. | |
A CCTV clip posted on Twitter by police showed a group of seven young people walking past the vehicle shortly before the blast. | |
'Lucky' | |
Mr McAleer told BBC News NI his granddaughter was among the group and he claimed all seven teenagers could have been killed. | |
He said his family was "devastated" when they realised the full extent of the danger to which their granddaughter had been exposed. | |
"Your thoughts very much are what could have happened... it's difficult to get that point out of your head," Mr McAleer said. | |
He explained that the group of teenagers are from "mixed" religious backgrounds and had little experience of Northern Ireland's troubled past. | |
"They don't understand anything about the '70s or '80s, they know nothing about it," he said. | |
"I don't even think they know what one another's religion is and they are out there, just walking around having a nice evening and they walk past that. | |
"I don't think [my granddaughter] still understands just how lucky she was, I don't think she understands at all because she has no connection with that time period or that era." | |
Addressing MPs in the Commons on Monday afternoon, Mrs May said: "This house stands together with the people of Northern Ireland in ensuring that we never go back to the violence and terror of the past." | |
Monday's security alerts are still continuing. | |
PSNI Supt Gordon McCalmont said police are currently "in the process of implementing a public safety operation, establishing cordons and evacuating a number of homes" in Derry's Creggan area. | PSNI Supt Gordon McCalmont said police are currently "in the process of implementing a public safety operation, establishing cordons and evacuating a number of homes" in Derry's Creggan area. |
"Sadly, within two hours today, we are dealing with a second security alert in the city, which means even more disruption for the local community." | "Sadly, within two hours today, we are dealing with a second security alert in the city, which means even more disruption for the local community." |
Supt McCalmont added: "This second security alert and the measures we are taking to keep people safe will cause significant inconvenience for the local community, but we have no choice." | Supt McCalmont added: "This second security alert and the measures we are taking to keep people safe will cause significant inconvenience for the local community, but we have no choice." |
DUP leader Arlene Foster tweeted that the PSNI "needs our full support to remove those responsible from our streets". | DUP leader Arlene Foster tweeted that the PSNI "needs our full support to remove those responsible from our streets". |
Sinn Féin councillor Kevin Campbell said there can be "no justification for this type of reckless activity". | |
"Those responsible for this disruption have shown complete disregard for the people of Creggan, particularly elderly people who live in this area," he said. | "Those responsible for this disruption have shown complete disregard for the people of Creggan, particularly elderly people who live in this area," he said. |
A community centre in Central Drive has been made available to people who have been affected. | A community centre in Central Drive has been made available to people who have been affected. |
It follows continued disruption around the scene of Saturday's bomb outside Bishop Street Courthouse. | It follows continued disruption around the scene of Saturday's bomb outside Bishop Street Courthouse. |
The PSNI said Saturday's attack may have been carried out by the New IRA, a dissident republican group. | |
On Monday, police arrested a fifth man in connection with the bombing. | On Monday, police arrested a fifth man in connection with the bombing. |
The 50-year-old man has also been arrested in connection with an armed robbery in the Meadowbank Avenue area of the city last Tuesday. | The 50-year-old man has also been arrested in connection with an armed robbery in the Meadowbank Avenue area of the city last Tuesday. |
Four other men, two in their 20s and two others, one aged 32 and one aged 42, remain in police custody. | Four other men, two in their 20s and two others, one aged 32 and one aged 42, remain in police custody. |
Courthouse closed | Courthouse closed |
At the courthouse, scheduled jury trials have been put off until Wednesday. | At the courthouse, scheduled jury trials have been put off until Wednesday. |
Cases listed to be heard in the magistrate's courts are being held in Strabane, with some other hearings switching to Coleraine. | Cases listed to be heard in the magistrate's courts are being held in Strabane, with some other hearings switching to Coleraine. |
Police say Bishop Street has been reopened after an investigation of the scene was completed. | |
They thanked "the patience of all those impacted" by the cordon. | |
Driver 'threatened and intimidated' | Driver 'threatened and intimidated' |
PSNI Supt Gordon McCalmont told BBC Radio Foyle the police were trying to get the city back to normal and show the attack had "little or no long-term impact". | PSNI Supt Gordon McCalmont told BBC Radio Foyle the police were trying to get the city back to normal and show the attack had "little or no long-term impact". |
He said the PSNI was "lucky we are not talking about loss of life". | He said the PSNI was "lucky we are not talking about loss of life". |
Supt McCalmont also said the pizza delivery driver whose vehicle was hijacked and used in Saturday's bombing "had to go through the drama of having a firearm put to his head". | |
"He was threatened and intimidated. It would be fair to say he was asked not to raise the alarm." | "He was threatened and intimidated. It would be fair to say he was asked not to raise the alarm." |
What is the New IRA? | What is the New IRA? |
He added: "These groupings obviously want us to respond. We will be very balanced. This threat has always been in this city. | He added: "These groupings obviously want us to respond. We will be very balanced. This threat has always been in this city. |
"My sense is that this is not because of Brexit." | "My sense is that this is not because of Brexit." |