A suspicious object has detonated outside a home in Derry in what may have been a sectarian hate crime, police have said.
Reports suggest the object was a pipebomb.
It happened just before 11pm on Tuesday.
Detective Inspector Jack said: "At around 10.50pm, a loud bang was reported in the Bonds Place area.
"Police and ATO attended the scene, and a number of homes in the area were evacuated as a public safety operation was carried out.
"Police suspect this was a pipe bomb-type device.
"Our officers remain at the scene this morning as we continue with our enquiries into this reckless act. We are following a number of lines of enquiry, including that this was a sectarian hate crime.
Earlier in the evening a house in the Glendale Road area was damaged after it was repeatedly rammed by a van. No one was injured.
"While damage was caused to a property, thankfully, no one in the property at the time was injured.
“However, what occurred in the Bonds Place area last night could have had extremely serious consequences and we could have been dealing with serious injury, or worse today."
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101.
Alliance Councillor Rachael Ferguson called for an end to all violence in Derry.
“Over the last 24 hours we have seen acts of violence in our city which could have led to the loss of life or serious injury," she said.
“We have had an explosive device thrown at a house in Bonds Place and an attack on a house in Glendale Road, where shots were heard. Clearly there are people who want to bring us back to the dark days, but the majority of people in our community reject violence and want this violence to stop immediately."
