Arrests made after bomb find

FOUR men in their 40’s are being questioned at Antrim Serious Crime Suite this morning after being arrested in connection with the discovery of what is being described as a ‘home made bomb’ in Creggan estate last night.
By The Newsroom
Published 7th Dec 2012, 09:33 BST

A PSNI statement confirmed that detectives from the Serious Crime Branch stopped a car at a round 8.40pm last night and subsequently arrested three suspects, two of which are aged 47 and one aged 40. Another 41-year-old man was arrested nearby.

The arrests took place in the Westway area. Following the arrests some residents were evacuated to a nearby leisure centre for a period whilst Army bomb experts dismantled the suspect object.

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Police have also said that the arrests were made in connection to ongoing investigations into dissident republican activity in the city.

This morning, police maintained a highly visible presence in the area with PSNI vehicles patrolling all approach roads to the Westway area of Creggan. The Sentinel has also learned that the police carried out raids in the estate at around 4am this morning including the home of at least one of the suspects detained last night.

SDLP Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey said: “Details are sketchy at the moment, however, there is a palpable sense in the local community of both relief that nobody was hurt in an incident but also of anger that once again Creggan people are being severely put out by the actions of a small minority and the good name of the local community is being further tarnished.

“I urge anybody with information about this to pass it to the police. The people of Creggan and the wider city do not deserve this. Disruption and fear is not the atmosphere to rear our children in, these people must learn from the lessons of the past.”

Leading PSNI officer in the city, Chief Superintendent Stephen Martin is due to give a press conference on the incident at 11.45am this morning.