Security alert cleared before Relief of Derry parade

An alert began on the Waterside's Spencer Road shortly after 2am on Saturday morning when the PSNI received information that a suspect device had been left in the area.

Five petrol bombs were hurled at police on Spencer Road at around 3am as they carried out their investigation and sleeping tourists at Iona House, a guest house on the road had to be evacuated from the premises.

Tensions surrounding the parade in Londonderry had been largely dissipated after the cancellation of a planned protest by dissident republicans. Members of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement had signalled their intention to hold a 'white line' picket on Londonderry's Shipquay Street yards from the main Apprentice Boys parade on Saturday afternoon over issues concerning republican prisoners at HMP Magheraberry. But, a deal between the prisoners and the jail authorities saw the cancellation of the protest and the dampening of fears of violence during the main parade.

A firm but relatively low key security presence was maintained by the PSNI in Londonderry from early on Saturday morning.

A PSNI helicopter hovered over the city centre from around 8am on Saturday morning whilst the initial events by the Apprentice Boys took place. It maintained its presence over the city's Diamond as a wreath laying ceremony in remembrance of the war dead took place at Londonderry's Cenotaph.

One stark reminder that fears over dissident republican attacks were still prevalent however was the sealing off of public waste bins in the city centre so that explosive devices could not be planted in them.

And, before the start of the main parade at approximately 12.30 police deployed a spotter plane over the city which circled for some hours until the parade ended.

In another incident in the early hours of Saturday morning a man in his 20's was attacked at Strule Gardens in the Irish Street district.

Three masked men armed with golf clubs approached and then attacked the man who has received hospital treatment for a head injury and it is understood his hands were broken in the attack.

A police spokeswoman said that whilst it was yet to be established if paramilitaries were responsible for the attack that this was one line of enquiry being followed.

The PSNI have appealed for anyone with information on this attack or the security alert at Spencer Road to contact them on 08456008000 or at the anonymous 'Crimestoppers' line on 0800555111.