POLICE in Derry are investigating whether a pipe-bomb attack was behind a security alert which damaged cars and caused residents to be evacuated.
Several residents in the Carnhill area had reported being woken overnight by “loud bangs.”
Police were alerted to the disturbance and damage to vehicles around 10.45pm on Tuesday night, evacuating several homes as a precaution.
As residents have returned home, detectives from North West Criminal Investigation Division say one line of enquiry is tat “two viable pipe bombs” had been left in the area.
Detective Sergeant Ballentine said: “From our enquiries so far, it has been established that at least three vehicles have been damaged. There have been no reports of any injuries at this time.
“We’re appealing to anyone with doorbell, CCTV or dash cam footage which may assist our enquiries to get in touch. We’re also keen to hear from anyone who may have seen two males in the area prior to, around or just after 10.35pm acting suspiciously.”
He added: “We appreciate the disruption this has caused, in particular to residents who had to leave their homes late last night. We want to thank everyone impacted for their understanding and co-operation.”
The number to call with information is 101, quoting reference 1791 of September 24.
SDLP Ballyarnett councillor Catherine McDaid condemned the “reckless attack.”
“The suspected leaving of two viable devices in a built up area is shocking and we are very lucky that nobody was hurt as a result of this,” she said.
“Many local residents were awoken to loud noises and forced to leave their homes in the dead of night. I also understand that some residents had property damaged, nobody should have to put up with that and a number of people were left shaken as a result.
“The people who carried out this reckless attack did so without concern for the people living in this community. There can be no justification for incidents like this and it should be rightly condemned by all. People in Carnhill should be able to live their lives in peace without worrying they’ll be interrupted by something like this.
“I would urge anyone with any information about this to come forward to police. Anyone who puts people at risk like this must be held accountable for their actions.”
Earlier, a resident named Catherine told the BBC: “We were just lying in bed and we just heard two loud bangs.
“We both looked at each other, me and my partner, and said ‘that was definitely not a firework, it was definitely more than that’.”
“We didn’t see anything so we just went to sleep, then we just woke up this morning and saw the police.”
Another resident named Lisa also said her vehicle had been damaged.
“I came out of the house and saw that there was four vehicles damaged and mine was one of them, there is a hole on the side of my car,” she said.
“I think it was caused by whatever exploded and it’s obviously hit my car and there’s a hole now on the wing.”
