Northern Ireland

Two men arrested over attempted murder of police officer in Derry

The scene of the bomb attack on a police officer in the Culmore area of Derry. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
The scene of the bomb attack on a police officer in the Culmore area of Derry. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin The scene of the bomb attack on a police officer in the Culmore area of Derry. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin

TWO men have been arrested in connection with the attempted murder of a police officer at his home in Derry earlier this year.

A bomb was found underneath the off-duty officer's car which was parked at his home in Ardanlee in Culmore.

A 43-year-old and a 59-year-old man have been arrested over the February 22 attack.

Acting Detective Chief Inspector Peter McKenna said: “If this UVIED [Under Vehicle Improvised Explosive Device] had exploded with our colleague and his young family in the car it would have had devastating consequences. I believe the New IRA are responsible for this cowardly attack during which they put everyone’s safety at risk as the device was left in a residential area and could have exploded at any time.

The republican group known as the ‘IRA’ claimed responsibility for the attack at the time.

The device exploded as British Army bomb disposal experts worked to defuse it.