Bomb alert at PPS office now over

Staff at the Waterside PPS office had been evacuated following the security alert, which had unfolded around lunchtime.

DUP MLA Gary Middleton, who was at the scene with colleagues David Ramsey and Graham Warke, tweeted: “At the scene of the security alert at the PPS office Limavady rd Londonderry with cllr @davidramsey40. All staff evacuated and ATO at scene.”

But a few hours later, following the attendance of the Ammunition Technical Officers the PSNI said an object found in the grounds was given the all clear.

A police spokesperson said: “ATO examined a suspicious package at a property and have declared it to be nothing untoward.”

The alert had to be taken seriously, however, as the office has been the target of attempted bomb attacks in the past. In October 2013, for example, the bomb squad was tasked to a security alert at the same PPS office in Londonderry after the PSNI confirmed that a package delivered to the Limavady Road was a viable letter bomb type device. Former Chief Constable Matt Baggott referred to the plight of staff at the PPS and post offices in Londonderry after the letter bomb was posted to the former on October 28, 2013. Briefing the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on October 29, 2013, the day another letter bomb was intercepted on its way to Secretary of State, Theresa Villiers - he said: “I would also add my own very personal accolades to the mail service for the people who do the screening.”