This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-19671666

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 7 Version 8
Two viable explosive devices found in Londonderry Dissident republicans blamed for Strand Road, Derry, bombs
(35 minutes later)
Two bombs have been discovered during an overnight security alert in Londonderry, the police have confirmed. Security forces were the target of two bombs left in Londonderry overnight, the police have said.
They were found close to Derry City Council's offices on Strand Road. A number of nearby houses were evacuated. A pipe bomb and booby trap bomb on a timer were both made safe by the Army.
The bombs have been made safe by Army bomb disposal experts and residents have been allowed to return home. The pipe bomb was left in a holdall at Derry City Council's office grounds and the booby trap attached to a bicycle chained to railings on a walkway at the back of the offices.
A separate alert on Markethill Road in County Armagh has been declared a hoax after the Army carried out a controlled explosion on an suspicious object. Dissident republicans are being blamed for leaving the bombs which were discovered late on Thursday night.
The alert began on Friday morning and the road had been closed between Markethill and Newtownhamilton. Police have said a Foyle Search and Rescue volunteer who lifted the holdall and looked inside could have been killed.
In Derry, all roads in the area have reopened to traffic following the alert but the police operation is continuing. A number of houses close to the Strand Road scene were evacuated during the security alert.
All roads in the area have reopened to traffic following the alert but the police operation is continuing.
'Very frightening''Very frightening'
However, 200 staff at Derry City Council and 100 at Fujitsu, which has offices next door, were told not to come in to work.However, 200 staff at Derry City Council and 100 at Fujitsu, which has offices next door, were told not to come in to work.
The alarm was raised shortly after 23:00 BST on Thursday when a suspicious object was found during a routine patrol by the Foyle Search and Rescue team.The alarm was raised shortly after 23:00 BST on Thursday when a suspicious object was found during a routine patrol by the Foyle Search and Rescue team.
The charity is staffed by volunteers who patrol the River Foyle and its banks in an effort to promote safety on the waterway.The charity is staffed by volunteers who patrol the River Foyle and its banks in an effort to promote safety on the waterway.
The chairman of Foyle Search and Rescue, Craig Smyth, said a member of his staff found a holdall bag near a fence at the back of the council offices.The chairman of Foyle Search and Rescue, Craig Smyth, said a member of his staff found a holdall bag near a fence at the back of the council offices.
"One of the female volunteers opened the bag. It was like a normal rucksack sitting at the side of the river. "One of the female volunteers opened the bag. It was like a normal rucksack sitting at the side of the river," Mr Smyth said.
"She saw a metal pipe like device inside. "She saw a metal pipe like device inside. "She set down the bag and walked away and knew not to reach into it.
"She set down the bag and walked away and knew not to reach into it. "It was very frightening for her."
"It was very frightening for her," Mr Smyth said.
"There were three people standing around the bag, all of them could have been killed.""There were three people standing around the bag, all of them could have been killed."
The woman then called the police.The woman then called the police.
SDLP MLA for Foyle, Mark H Durkan, said the discovery by the seach and rescue volunteer "could actually have cost them their lives while they're out trying to save others". SDLP MLA for Foyle, Mark H Durkan, said the discovery by the search and rescue volunteer "could actually have cost them their lives while they're out trying to save others".
He said PSNI officers had told him that one of the devices was found at the back of the building while the other was discovered within the council office grounds.He said PSNI officers had told him that one of the devices was found at the back of the building while the other was discovered within the council office grounds.
A security cordon was lifted shortly after 07:00 BST on Friday but forensic officers are still at the scene.A security cordon was lifted shortly after 07:00 BST on Friday but forensic officers are still at the scene.
Pedestrian access to the river walk at the rear of the council offices is restricted as the police operation continues.Pedestrian access to the river walk at the rear of the council offices is restricted as the police operation continues.
A separate alert on Markethill Road in County Armagh has been declared a hoax after the Army carried out a controlled explosion on an suspicious object.
The alert began on Friday morning and the road had been closed between Markethill and Newtownhamilton.