Motive behind Bonds Street bomb still under investigation

Police are still investigating the motive for a pipe-bomb attack in Bonds Street last Wednesday.

The Sentinel asked the PSNI if it believed the attack was sectarian in nature or if it had ruled out a sectarian motive.

A spokeswoman replied that the “motive is still under investigation at this stage.”

The pipe-bomb exploded at approximately 4am on April 3 after being placed through the letter-box of a house in Bonds Street. It’s reported that a man living in the house only moved there recently.

The attack prompted a daylight security alert in the area that resulted in homes being evacuated and roads being closed hours after the bomb went off and once the PSNI had been notified of the incident.

The alert - which involved army bomb squad officers being tasked to the scene - only ended at 3.30pm on April 3 - nearly 12 hours after the bomb went off.

Following the bomb attack, the PSNI stated: “Anyone with any information about the incident or who saw any suspicious activity in the Bonds Street early in the early hours of Wednesday, April 3 is asked to contact Strand Road Police Station on 0845 600 8000.

“Or if someone would prefer to provide information without giving their details, they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers and speak to them anonymously on 0800 555 111,” she said.

Chair of the Ulster Unionist Party’s (UUP) Foyle Constituency Association Ronnie McKeegan said: “Once again, residents and business people in the city of Londonderry have been put in physical danger and been inconvenienced by faceless people whose only aim is to cause disruption and who have nothing positive to offer anyone in this city or this society. “There’s no excuse for planting devices or creating circumstances where people have to leave their homes and businesses.”