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Londonderry alert: Man forced at gunpoint to drive to PSNI station, says Eastwood Londonderry alert: Man forced to drive at gunpoint to police station
(34 minutes later)
A man has been forced at gunpoint to drive to a Londonderry police station, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood has said. A grey Ford Mondeo was hijacked by a number of men at about 22:30 GMT on Sunday
Mr Eastwood said the man's vehicle had been hijacked before he was ordered to drive to the Waterside police station. A delivery driver has been forced at gunpoint to drive a suspicious object to a Londonderry police station.
It follows the report of a suspicious object in the Richill Park area on Sunday night. The grey Ford Mondeo was hijacked by a number of men at about 22:30 GMT on Sunday.
Lisnagelvin Primary School has confirmed it will not open on Monday due to the ongoing security operation. The driver was forced to abandon the vehicle outside Waterside police station. He was then able to raise the alarm.
Some homes were evacuated overnight and the nearby Irish Street community centre opened for residents. A number of homes have been evacuated and a local primary school has closed due to the ongoing security operation.
"We have been told that a van was hijacked and the man asked to drive the van to the police station," the MP told BBC Radio Foyle. Supt Clive Beatty said the driver had been subjected to an "horrific ordeal".
"What always happens in these situations is that the ordinary people of this city are put at risk by people who have nothing to offer and are trying to tell people they just exist." "This reckless and despicable act has brought chaos to the local community in Crescent Link, with many residents having to evacuate their homes," he said.
"Local businesses and a local school are also experiencing disruption this morning".
Police said the suspicious object was placed in the delivery driver's car in the Curryneirin area of the city before he was forced to drive the 2.5 miles (4km) to the police station.
Reports from derry extremely concerning. Have spoken to PSNI for assessment. More chaos and disruption for the local community. These people that reach for the past need to hear that’s it’s not available to them. We must all unite against these reckless actions.
Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O'Neill said the incident was "extremely concerning".
" More chaos and disruption for the local community," she said in a tweet.
"These people that reach for the past need to hear that it's not available to them."
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood told BBC Radio Foyle those responsible had nothing to offer.
"What always happens in these situations is that the ordinary people of this city are put at risk by people who have nothing to offer and are trying to tell people they just exist," he said.
Members of the public are asked to avoid the area.Members of the public are asked to avoid the area.
A number of roads remain closed on Monday morning including Crescent Link and disruption is expected.A number of roads remain closed on Monday morning including Crescent Link and disruption is expected.
Niree McMorris, from the Irish Street community centre, said it had been open since 23:30 GMT on Sunday. Niree McMorris, from the Irish Street community centre, said it had been open since 23:30 GMT on Sunday to help those evacuated.
She said it had been a long night for the families who had been forced from their homes.
"There has been a steady flow of families all night," she said."There has been a steady flow of families all night," she said.
"People cannot believe this is happening, people who have lived in the area for 20 plus years say they have never seen anything like this.""People cannot believe this is happening, people who have lived in the area for 20 plus years say they have never seen anything like this."
Adults slept on chairs, while makeshift beds were made for young children, she added. Gary Middleton, from the Democratic Unionist Party, said it was "absolutely disgraceful" children were being denied the opportunity to go to school and that events at the community centre had been cancelled.
The PSNI thanked residents for their patience and cooperation throughout the evacuation. "People are angry, annoyed to have been shifted from their homes by the acts of people who have nothing to offer society," he said.
Ulster Unionist councillor Ryan McCready said about 50 people had spent the night in the community centre.
"The impact, even just getting people out of their beds, and now the knock on, denying people a right and access to education, in a safe environment, or to attend their work is a shocking, reckless disregard for society and our way of life."
'Gone backwards'
Glenda Mellon and her family live in the area.
She told BBC Radio Foyle she heard a loud bang at about 04:00.
"My husband and I both looked at each other and said 'I think that was a bomb'.
"We listened to hear for sirens after that, but didn't and thought nothing more about it. We got up this morning and had police outside our front and back door," she said.
"It feels like we have gone back in time. Our kids have never experienced this before, it really feels like we have gone backwards."
Colin Torrens, principal of Lisnagelvin Primary School, said he had little choice but to close the school on Monday.
"This is another mindless act from people who have no agenda and who are certainly not welcome in the city or the province," he said.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) thanked residents for their patience and cooperation throughout the evacuation.
"We'd also like to thank local community representatives in helping to organise emergency shelter," a PSNI spokeswoman added."We'd also like to thank local community representatives in helping to organise emergency shelter," a PSNI spokeswoman added.