DISSIDENTS have been blamed for a viable bomb found on the outskirts of Derry following a prolonged security alert.
Families in Lettershandoney were able to return home at tea-time last night, more than 24 hours after they were first forced to leave.
Superintendent Gordon McCalmont confirmed that a viable device had been discovered and removed for further examination.
Earlier he had accused dissident republicans of providing inaccurate information about the whereabouts of the bomb.
Police launched a second security alert on Thursday after officers were unable to find anything when a warning was issued on Wednesday.
Supt McCalmont said: “Over a period of two days violent dissident republicans have been telling us, through intermediaries, that there is a bomb in the area of Lettershandoney. On Wednesday they told us it was in one position and yesterday (Thursday) they said it was in another.”
Following the discovery of the bomb, the Derry police chief said the majority of people understood why the operation was necessary.
"When violent dissident criminals tell us that there is a device in the area we do not take chances. Conflicting and inaccurate information provided by those criminal elements prolonged this operation and the blame lies squarely with those individuals who seem intent on creating fear and causing harm within our communities," he said.
Sinn Féin assembly member Raymond McCartney described the device as a “reckless act” which people did not want.
“Whoever is behind this alert needs to realise they do not represent the people of Derry and stop these futile actions immediately,” he said.
SDLP councillor Jim McKeever said many families were upset that their children’s return to school had been disrupted.
“Parents were trying to get back into their homes to fetch children’s uniforms and there were children crying in the street; they were scared. This morning some children had to be taken to school by police because of disruption with buses. They (dissident republicans) are holding the people to ransom,” he said.
