POLICE have urged residents in Derry to be vigilant after a viable pipe bomb was found during a security alert in Dungiven.
PSNI officers issued the alert over the weekend, closing roads and shutting down access to the area from Saturday, February 24 until yesterday evening (February 26).
As the security ended last night, officers thanked the public for their patience, but warned that a second device may still be in the area.
PSNI Area Commander for Causeway Coast and Glens, Superintendent Mark Roberts said: “I would like to thank the community in Dungiven for their patience and understanding during the significant three-day policing operation.
“Officers recovered a viable pipe bomb type device on, Sunday 25th February, at Curragh Road,” he added.
The device was made safe and was removed for further forensic examination, the PSNI have since confirmed.
“A call was received using a recognised code word claiming that there had been an attack on our officers and two devices left at the junction of the Curragh Road with Garvagh Road and the Old Foreglen Road,” Supt Roberts explained.
“We have as yet been unable to corroborate the claims of an attack and following comprehensive specialist search of this 11 mile stretch of road since Saturday, nothing else untoward has been found,” he added.
“I would however urge the public in the area to continue to be vigilant and I am appealing to anyone who sees anything suspicious in this area not to touch it or pick it up, but to call police immediately on 999.”
Two men aged 55 and a further two men, aged 22 and 35, have been arrested in connection with terrorism related offences following searches at properties in Omagh and Derry.
“The people responsible should be ashamed of themselves for placing local people at risk by leaving a viable device in the heart of a community not to mention the disruption they caused to this community as police worked tirelessly to keep people safe,” Supt Roberts said.
“They were reckless and selfish and showed no care or respect for the inconvenience and impact this would have on people, some of whom were evacuated from their homes over the weekend.”
Local Sinn Féin Councillor Sean McGlinchey said such incidents are not reflective of the Dungiven area.
"Once again, Dungiven is in the media for the wrong reasons," he said following the incident.
"Incidents such as this are a total disgrace and represent nobody in our community,” he added.
