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Rocket found in car in Creggan, Derry Four still held over Derry rocket
(about 20 hours later)
A senior police officer has said he has no doubt the home-made rocket found in a car in Londonderry was to be used to try and kill his officers. Four men in their 40s are still being questioned by police after a home-made rocket was found in a car stopped in Londonderry on Thursday night.
The vehicle was stopped at Westway in Creggan. Three of the men were in the vehicle, the other was arrested nearby.
A senior police officer has said he has no doubt the rocket was to be used to try and kill his officers.
Chief Supt Stephen Martin said the device was of a type used extensively by insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan.Chief Supt Stephen Martin said the device was of a type used extensively by insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Four men are being questioned after the rocket was found in Westway in the Creggan area at about 20:40 GMT on Thursday.
Three were arrested in the car and the fourth nearby.
"This a weapon which is used primarily to attack armoured vehicles and kill the occupants of those vehicles," Chief Supt Martin said."This a weapon which is used primarily to attack armoured vehicles and kill the occupants of those vehicles," Chief Supt Martin said.
"Unfortunately it has been used extensively in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan to deadly effect."Unfortunately it has been used extensively in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan to deadly effect.
"So we are obviously concerned that there was one of these in the city last night, but delighted that we have been able to take it out of circulation before it was used for its deadly purpose.""So we are obviously concerned that there was one of these in the city last night, but delighted that we have been able to take it out of circulation before it was used for its deadly purpose."
Chief Supt Martin said three of the rockets, which he termed "explosively formed projectiles" had previously been seized in Northern Ireland recently, but this was the first in Derry.Chief Supt Martin said three of the rockets, which he termed "explosively formed projectiles" had previously been seized in Northern Ireland recently, but this was the first in Derry.
"It would be my firm belief that this would have been used against police within the city here," he said."It would be my firm belief that this would have been used against police within the city here," he said.
"Clearly it is a worrying development, this is a device which is designed for one purpose and that's to kill.""Clearly it is a worrying development, this is a device which is designed for one purpose and that's to kill."
He said the arrest operation had been "proactive" and was targeting dissident republican activity.He said the arrest operation had been "proactive" and was targeting dissident republican activity.
Some residents had to leave their homes while the Army dealt with the device.Some residents had to leave their homes while the Army dealt with the device.
The four men who were arrested are all in their 40s.
'Disruption and distress'
Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey said people in the Creggan area were "once again victims of disruption, distress and anger".
"There was the distress of families being decanted from their homes - some 80 or 90 years of age, some needing medication went out without them," he said.
"So there's always that trauma and worry and the anxiousness of what you're going home to.
"I think people will be waking up and saying thank God this bomb was found. It was en route somewhere and would have caused destruction , if not death, in the city somewhere last night."
BBC Ireland reporter, Andy Martin said: "There is a significant pocket of dissident republicans operating within the city and there has been for some time. They were loosely aligned to the Real IRA, but we believe that grouping is now part of what is commonly referred to as the new IRA.
"It has joined forces with some groups in east Tyrone and in pockets of Armagh - the group is believed to have been responsible for a number of incidents over the past number of months."