Suspicious object at Derry police station declared an 'elaborate hoax'

A suspect device, transported to a police station in Derry by a delivery driver held at gunpoint, has been declared an "elaborate hoax." 

The hijacked driver of a grey Ford Mondeo was forced at gunpoint to transport a suspicious device to Waterside police station in what police have described as a "horrific ordeal." 

The hijacking, which occurred at around 10.30pm, involved a number of men who forced the driver to abandon the vehicle outside the police station.

The driver was able to raise the alarm, and a public safety operation was immediately implemented. 

Remembering Fr Brian White: Priest made religion relevant to everyday life

Joint Security Zone Should Straddle Border – On This Day in 1974

Derry City & Strabane Area Commander, Chief Superintendent Nigel Goddard branded the actions of those responsible as futile. 

"The misguided and senseless actions of those responsible have caused widespread disruption in the local community and beyond," said Chief Superintendent Goddard. 

"People had to be moved out of their homes. Children couldn't go to school this morning, while access to Altnagelvin Hospital for staff and those in need of medical help was impacted. The actions of those behind what was an attack on the community are reckless and futile.

"We hope the driver who was caught up in this horrific ordeal can recover and our thoughts are with him today. 

"Despite the cowardly and senseless efforts of a few, the community in Derry City & Strabane can be assured that their local officers will continue to work to keep them safe. Between 10pm on Thursday, 17th November and this morning, our officers have responded to more than 300 calls for service. That's in addition to dealing with the attempted murder of two of our officers in Strabane on Thursday night, and this current security alert." 

Investigations into the incident continue.

Chief Superintendent Goddard added: "This incident has been widely condemned by the community and rightly so. Thank you to all those who were impacted and to the wider public for your patience and cooperation." 

While cordons remain in place in the wider Crescent Link area, as officers conduct their enquiries, the main Crescent Link has re-opened.  Lisnagelvin Primary School had to close on Monday.

The Taoiseach condemned in the “strongest possible manner” the hijacking.

Speaking in Shankill, Co Wicklow, Micheál Martin said there is “no more room” for violence in Northern Ireland.

“I would be concerned,” Mr Martin said.

“These are two incidents now within a week. I think we’d have to be very, very clear to people that the people on this island and people in Northern Ireland want no more violence. They want politics to work.

“We condemn utterly anybody who’s contemplating violence, or anyone in paramilitary organisations that believe they have a right to impose such barbarity and violence on people, hijacking vehicles, hijacking drivers and so on. We condemn that in the strongest possible manner.

“We have to be very clear that there was no room for violence any more in Northern Ireland.”

He added that those contemplating violence should be aware that the “full rigours” of the law will be applied and the strongest co-operation between An Garda Siochana and the PSNI continues to exist.

“We will work together to try and make sure that such efforts don’t gain any strength,” he added.

Police and army technical officers spent the night dealing with the security alert outside the Waterside Police Station.

DUP MLA Gary Middleton said: “I was on the ground all night. I commend the community centre staff for rallying to help families.

“Babies who needed milk. Children who needed somewhere to sleep. Nurses coming off shift who needed somewhere to lie down.

“The disruption has been incredible but so has the community response.”

Foyle MP Colm Eastwood said: “This horrendous incident has shocked people in Derry and right across the North as they wake up to what's happened on Monday morning. Ordinary people who are getting ready to do a day’s work, children preparing for school and the community as a whole have been impacted, with significant disruption caused as a result.

“Our thoughts are with the driver who has been through a terrible ordeal and all the people affected. Nobody should be subjected to this kind of attack while out trying to earn a living. This incident harks back to one of the darkest days of our city’s past, the disgraceful murder of Patsy Gillespie and will be retraumatising for victims.

“Those behind this are achieving nothing by disrupting the lives of people in our city. They enjoy no support in this community and are actively harming the cause of Irish unity through their futile actions. Violence of any kind was wrong 50 years ago and it’s wrong today, these groups need to realise it’s long past time they left the stage and police must hold them accountable for their actions.”

Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O’Neill said the community needed to unite against “these reckless actions”.

She tweeted: “Reports from Derry extremely concerning.

“Have spoken to PSNI for assessment.

“More chaos and disruption for the local community.

“These people that reach for the past need to hear that’s it’s not available to them.

“We must all unite against these reckless actions.”