Northern Ireland

Derry mum says 'copper, jaggy thing' her 6-year-old son found was exploded bomb

The device exploded around 6pm on Tuesday at Curlew Way in Derry's Waterside.
The device exploded around 6pm on Tuesday at Curlew Way in Derry's Waterside. The device exploded around 6pm on Tuesday at Curlew Way in Derry's Waterside.

THE mother of a six-year-old boy who lifted a pipe bomb after it exploded in the garden of their Derry home has branded the attackers as "vile human beings".

The woman said her home at Curlew Way in the Clooney area of the Waterside was targeted because she has Catholic friends. Her young son lifted the remnants of the bomb around 6pm on Tuesday.

"I'm absolutely disgusted; absolutely disgusted to think that some dirty, vile human being would even do it. I'm fuming that somebody would do it, just what could have happened to him," she said.

The woman, who did not wish to be named, told how her son came to her with the device in his hand.

"I met him at the door. It was a copper jaggy thing. I took it off him because it looked dangerous and jaggy and put it up out of the road.

"I was talking to my mum about it and she said - I thought it was something from the oil tank - no, I think it might be a pipe bomb," she said.

After putting her son to bed, she called police who later confirmed it was a pipe bomb.

PSNI detective inspector, Michael Winters said police were notified approximately four hours after the attack.

“Our inquiries are at an early stage, however, it appears at this time the device had detonated prior to it being lifted by the young boy," he said.

“While this was not a live device, the fact that a young boy found it and lifted it shows the blatant disregard by those responsible for leaving it there. It was completely reckless.”

Mr Winter appealed to anyone with information about the attack to come forward.

“I also want to take this opportunity to remind the public if anyone comes across anything suspicious, please call police immediately,” he said.

SDLP councillor Martin Reilly said the fact that a young child discovered the bomb had angered the community.

“People here are shocked and angry,” Mr Reilly said.

Sinn Féin councillor Christopher Jackson said those responsible showed no regard for the public.

“The fact that the remains of this device were picked up by a child is shocking and shows what could have happened if anyone had been in the area when it exploded."

Sandra Duffy, chairwoman of the Derry and Strabane Policing and Community Safety Partnership, said those responsible had "absolutely no concern for people living in the area and their only aim is to try and exert coercive control of the people residing there".