THE PSNI has confirmed that a bomb has been found under the car of a serving officer in Derry.
Police are still at the scene of the incident in Glenrandel in the Eglinton area, five miles from Derry City.
Fifteen houses were evacuated in the early hours of this morning and the area remains closed to traffic and residents.
Local District Commander Superintendent Mark McEwan said: “Police were alerted to suspicious activity outside a house at around 2.45am this morning. Upon attending the scene a device was located under a car parked outside the house.
“ATO [Ammunition Technical Officers] were tasked to the scene during the early hours and have now declared this to be a viable device.
“We can confirm that this was an Under Vehicle Improvised Explosive Device capable of causing death or serious injury under the car of a serving police officer.”
He added: “This device had the potential to harm not only the officer but anyone in that residential area and those involved have shown a blatant disregard for human life. This is yet another example of the cowardly elements in our society who show no regard for the safety of local residents and the police officers who serve their community.
“We are obviously very thankful that this attack was thwarted and that no one was injured here this morning but this is a stark reminder that the threat against our Police Service and its employees remains at severe.
“Clearly there are people out there in today’s society who are still intent on causing murder and mayhem. These criminal elements are not welcome in our society and I am appealing to the local community for their assistance in driving this small minority from our streets and bringing them before the courts."
