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Teenager held bomb for several minutes before police arrived

Derry councillor, Sandra Duffy said a 15-year-old boy could have been killed in Thursday's attempted bomb attack.
Derry councillor, Sandra Duffy said a 15-year-old boy could have been killed in Thursday's attempted bomb attack. Derry councillor, Sandra Duffy said a 15-year-old boy could have been killed in Thursday's attempted bomb attack.

A 15-year-old boy lifted a viable bomb before police were able to evacuate the area, a Derry councillor has revealed.

Police are still trying to discover the motive for the bomb attack at Cornshell Fields in the Shantallow area of Derry on Thursday night.

A police spokesman said a number of families had to be evacuated from their homes after what turned out to be a viable bomb was discovered close to the entrance to the housing development.

The spokesman said: “ATO (army technical officers) attended the scene and carried out a controlled explosion on a suspicious object.”

Following the security operation, a Sinn Féin councillor for the area, Sandra Duffy revealed that a teenager lifted the bomb before police arrived at the scene.

Ms Duffy said: “He held it in his hands for a number of minutes before putting it down ... if that device had gone off in his hands we could be sitting here talking about a tragedy."

SDLP councillor for the area, Brian Tierney said local people were furious after having to take children from their beds.

“These attacks cause disruption and fear. With young children and their parents having been kept up all night, the extent of the frustration felt by the community cannot be underestimated,” he said.