People evacuated in Derry/Londonderry security alert

By Q Radio News

A number of people have been moved from their homes in Derry/ Londonderry as the PSNI examines a suspicious vehicle in Galliagh Park.

This follows a report of a hijacking in the Bracken Park area of the city yesterday evening.

The area has been cordoned off and a number of residents have been evacuated to Templemore Sports Complex.

Police said a white Volkswagen Caddy van had been hijacked in Bracken Park at around 9pm yesterday.

SDLP councillor Brian Tierney said it had disrupted the lives of the community.

“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.”