LONDONDERRY: Residents evacuated after security alert
Officers are examining a suspicious vehicle in the Galliagh Park area
Last updated 19th Jan 2022
Residents have been evacuated from their homes following a security alert in Londonderry.
The PSNI has said officers are examining a suspicious vehicle in the Galliagh Park area.
The area has been cordoned off and several residents have been evacuated to Templemore Sports Complex while officers examine the vehicle.
It follows a report of a hijacking in the Bracken Park area of the city yesterday (Tuesday) evening.
SDLP councillor Brian Tierney has said a security alert has disrupted the lives of the community.
Councillor Tierney said a number of homes had been evacuated as a result of the security alert and a number of children missed school on Wednesday as a result.
He said: “A number of families, some containing young children and elderly people were woken up by a knock on the door at 5am this morning from police telling them they had to leave their homes as a result of this security alert.
"This would have been an extremely stressful and worrying experience.
“A number of children were forced to miss school this morning, something they will struggle to understand, particularly after being dragged from their homes in the early hours.
"My thoughts are with them and their families this morning and also with the driver of the van who was hijacked in the area last night.
“The people behind this attack have nothing to offer their community, I would urge them to cease this kind of activity at once. All they have done is hurt local people and disrupt their lives through their thoughtless actions.
"I would urge anyone with any information about this alert to come forward to police. It’s long past time we stopped seeing incidents like this in our city.”
Read More:
Viable pipe bomb found in North Antrim village