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Strabane security alert: Bomb attack on police in Mount Carmel Heights | Strabane security alert: Bomb attack on police in Mount Carmel Heights |
(31 minutes later) | |
A loud bang was heard in Strabane on Thursday night | A loud bang was heard in Strabane on Thursday night |
Two police officers have escaped injury after their patrol vehicle was damaged in a bomb attack in County Tyrone. | Two police officers have escaped injury after their patrol vehicle was damaged in a bomb attack in County Tyrone. |
It happened shortly before 23:00 GMT on Thursday in the Mount Carmel Heights area of Strabane, where residents reported hearing a loud bang. | |
More than 1,000 residents are affected and children have been unable to get to school due to road closures, a local politician has said. | |
Police are treating the attack as attempted murder. | |
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said investigations are at an early stage but it is believed an improvised explosive device was used. | |
The spokesperson said the attack, which caused damage to the vehicle, is "being treated as the attempted murder of two officers". | |
The road into the residential area remains closed. Motorists have been advised to avoid the area. | |
There has been no evacuation from homes, police said, but major disruption has been caused, local assembly member Daniel McCrossan said. | There has been no evacuation from homes, police said, but major disruption has been caused, local assembly member Daniel McCrossan said. |
Police remain at the scene on Friday morning | Police remain at the scene on Friday morning |
"People this morning who will be attempting to go to work, to take their children to school, will not be able to leave this area," he told BBC Radio Foyle. | "People this morning who will be attempting to go to work, to take their children to school, will not be able to leave this area," he told BBC Radio Foyle. |
He said it was a "very serious situation". | He said it was a "very serious situation". |
Mr McCrossan, who represents the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), said he had heard the bang overnight and was also contacted by a number of constituents. | Mr McCrossan, who represents the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), said he had heard the bang overnight and was also contacted by a number of constituents. |
"It was very clear something wasn't right," he said. | "It was very clear something wasn't right," he said. |
He added that Mount Carmel Heights is one of Strabane's largest residential areas. | He added that Mount Carmel Heights is one of Strabane's largest residential areas. |