LAST UPDATE | 21 Nov 2022

A MAJOR SECURITY operation in Derry city came to an end after the PSNI announced that a “suspicious device” left at a police station inside a hi-jacked car was actually a can of petrol and a piece of pipe.

Last night a man was forced at gunpoint to drive to a police station in Derry city and “a number of men forced the driver at gunpoint to abandon the vehicle – a grey Ford Mondeo – outside Waterside Police Station” the police service said.

The man, who was a delivery driver, told the police that the men had put a “device” in the rear of the car.

However, it was confirmed to be a hoax by the PSNI shortly after 1pm today, and roads in the area have begun to be reopened.

Derry City & Strabane Area Commander, Chief Superintendent Nigel Goddard told the BBC’s Derry-based station, Radio Foyle, that the hi-jackers sought to make the PSNI think a bomb had been placed.

“It was a device placed in the car to give the appearance of a bomb or a viable device, in this case it was a petrol can with a pipe attached to it which had the appearance of a bomb to the driver.”

He told the PA news agency that the object “is an elaborate hoax device, meant to look like a car bomb.”

The chief superintendent said on Radio Foyle that dissident republicans were suspected to be behind the incident and branded the actions of those responsible as futile. 

“The misguided and senseless actions of those responsible have caused widespread disruption in the local community and beyond,” said Chief Superintendent Goddard. 

“People had to be moved out of their homes. Children couldn’t go to school this morning, while access to Altnagelvin Hospital for staff and those in need of medical help was impacted. The actions of those behind what was an attack on the community are reckless and futile.

“We hope the driver who was caught up in this horrific ordeal can recover and our thoughts are with him today. 

“Despite the cowardly and senseless efforts of a few, the community in Derry City & Strabane can be assured that their local officers will continue to work to keep them safe.”

Last week, police said they were investigating the possibility that the New IRA was behind a bomb attack on a police vehicle in Strabane, Co Tyrone, in which two officers escaped injury.

“It’s an area of concern,” Goddard continued.

“We’ve had two attempted attacks over a short period of time. We’re certainly not complacent and in light of the incident that happened last week our officers had been responding with an increased level of patrolling.”

 Families were evacuated from their homes and forced to stay in a community centre overnight for their own safety while a nearby primary school and a hospital were closed. 

A security alert in Waterside in Derry/Londonderry has been declared an elaborate hoax. While cordons remain in place in the wider Crescent Link area, as officers conduct their enquiries, the main Crescent Link has re-opened. pic.twitter.com/Lg8UWZ2CWU

— Police Derry City and Strabane (@PSNIDCSDistrict) November 21, 2022

SDLP leader, Colum Eastwood, told the BBC’s Derry-based station Radio Foyle: “What always happens in these situations is that the ordinary people of this city are put at risk by people who have nothing to offer and are trying to tell people they just exist.”

In a follow-up statement, he added:

“This horrendous incident has shocked people in Derry and right across the North as they wake up to what’s happened on Monday morning. Ordinary people who are getting ready to do a day’s work, children preparing for school and the community as a whole have been impacted, with significant disruption caused as a result.”

Approximately 50 people were evacuated to the nearby Irish Street community station.

Middleton said: “I was on the ground all night. I commend the community centre staff for rallying to help families.

“Babies who needed milk. Children who needed somewhere to sleep. Nurses coming off shift who needed somewhere to lie down.

“The disruption has been incredible but so has the community response.”

Sinn Féin leader Michelle O’Neill has said that the situation in Derry is “extremely concerning.”

“Have spoken to PSNI for assessment. More chaos and disruption for the local community. These people that reach for the past need to hear that’s it’s not available to them. We must all unite against these reckless actions,” the MLA said in a Tweet.