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Ballyarnett bomb: Attempt to 'murder police officers' in Londonderry | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Police have said that a bomb found during a security alert in Derry was intended to "lure officers to their death". | |
They said it was a very complex and sophisticated device, deliberately designed to maim and kill. | |
No group has claimed the attack but police believe dissident republicans are behind it. | |
The bomb was planted at a house in Ballyarnett village on Monday night. | |
"Ruthless and dangerous" | |
Det Ch Insp Una Jennings from the Police Service of Northern Ireland serious crime branch said that shortly before midnight police received a bogus call about a burglary at a house in Ballyarnett. | |
"We checked with neighbours. They reported that there there was no burglary in progress at the address. | |
"There were, however, a number of calls placed to local organisations and community representatives in Derry which alleged that there was a bomb left at this address," she said. | |
"This sequence of events caused police to consider that this was a lure to draw officers into the area for a deliberate attack on them. | |
"The device that was left was very complex and quite a sophisticated device and left in a manner that was deliberately designed to maim and kill." | |
Det Ch Insp Una Jennings said she was disgusted by the attack. | |
"My reaction to it is one of disgust and horror. What I would say though is that the key to this investigation lies within the local community here in the north west and I would ask that the community come forward to the police. | |
"Murder" | |
"We are here and ready to listen. We understand how difficult it can be to have the courage to come forward with information. However, I believe we collectively have a legal and moral obligation to try and help identify those responsible. | |
"They are ruthless, dangerous people who have no regard for the community here in Derry and who, given the chance, would have been responsible for a murder here in the city last night. | |
"At this stage we are not aware of any claims being made by anyone who left the device, a line of enquiry is however that dissident republicans were behind it. " she said. |