Fresh appeal over under-car bomb

The PSNI’s Serious Crime Branch are investigating the undercar bomb, which detonated on Wednesday past outside the officer’s home in Ardanlee in Culmore.

Around a dozen families were evacuated in the early hours of Wednesday and were only allowed to return to their homes on Thursday evening.

Detective Chief Inspector Michael Harvey said that while the investigation is still at an early stage, he could confirm that the device was an Under Vehicle Improvised Explosive Device (UVIED).

“These are designed to kill and seriously injure people so I want to be absolutely clear that this device would have had devastating consequences if it had exploded with our colleague and his family in the car, he said, adding:

“The violent dissident republicans who carried out this attack intended to kill him. They didn’t care that his children or partner could also have been in the vehicle with him. He is not just a police officer in a uniform – he is also a father, a brother and a devoted family man who puts on his uniform every day to serve the local community that he is a part of.”

Det. Chf. Harvey said it was extremely lucky that no-one was hurt. He also said that the bomb attack “reinforced the fact that this small group of people have no regard for the safety of the local community or indeed the wishes of the vast majority of local people who want to live in a safe and peaceful society.”

Police have asked anyone who saw any unusual vehicles or people acting suspiciously in the Ardanlee area between 5pm on Tuesday (Feb 21) and 7am on Wednesday (22) to contact them. Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives at Strand Road on 101 or phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 anonymously.