Culmore Bomb ‘Designed to Kill'

THE PSNI believe a booby trap device which exploded outside a police officer’s home in Culmore yesterday afternoon was ‘designed to kill’.

- Marianne Flood 

The device detonated at around 2.30pm, when it was being examined by the bomb disposal squad robot.

District Commander Superintendent Gordon McCalmont said ‘violent dissident republicans’ are thought to be behind the attack at a quiet cul-de-sac in Ardanlee.

He told a press conference at Strand Road police station yesterday afternoon: “We should be thankful that we are not talking about the death or serious injury of someone.”

It is understood an ‘intricate’ device was planted under the officer’s car, but fell off and was spotted by a member of the public at around 9.30am.

Police evacuated 12 families from the area shortly afterwards.

Superintendent McCalmont said: “My colleague is someone who gets out of his bed every morning to goes to work with the sole aim of ensuring the safety of the community and working to prevent harm in the community.

“This is in sharp contrast to individuals who left a viable explosive device in a residential area with kids and families and the dangers don’t need to be explained in depth."