Derry mother says lucky no-one was hurt after finding exploded pipe-bomb in back garden

A Derry mother has said it's lucky no-one was hurt when two pipe bombs exploded in the Waterside on Wednesday night.

Leanne Victoria McNeill was in her home with her seven-year-old son when the bombs went off in the Caw Close area of Nelson Drive.

Ms. McNeill shared an image of the remnants of one of the bombs on the Derry Journal Facebook page.

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"Pipe bomb found in my back garden also where me and my seven-year old son live. Lucky no one was hurt, shocking!!" she said.

SDLP MLA Sinead McLaughlin condemned those behind the explosions.

The Foyle MLA has said that local people were left distressed and angry as they were forced from their homes by those intent on dragging this community backward.

She said: “Residents in the Waterside area of the city were left distressed and angry today after they were forced from their homes by thugs who left a crude but viable bomb in the area.

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“Those responsible have nothing to offer this community. We are trying to build a better Derry and acts like this only make that harder. They have to be faced down.”

“I would appeal to anyone with information to bring it forward.”

The PSNI were tasked to the scene on Thursday morning following reports of the discovery of two suspicious objects.

Both objects were examined by British Army Ammunition Technical Officers (ATO) who declared them as "small, exploded pipe bomb type devices."

Residents reported hearing loud bangs in the area between 10 p.m. and midnight on Wednesday.

There were no injuries but minor damage was caused to the front windows of two houses.