Security alert in Derry-Londonderry declared elaborate hoax

By Q Radio News

A security alert in Derry-Londonderry has been declared an elaborate hoax. 

A suspicious object was thrown at a house in the Carnhill area last night and a number of families were forced from thier homes. 

Several families were evacuated from their homes last night while the scene was sealed off.

Police were alerted by residents to a pipe-bomb style device which was believed to have been thrown from a car last night. Police cordoned off the area near Greenhaw Primary School and residents in a block of flats, including 70-year-old diabetic Thomas McAuley, were told to evacuate immediately."I realised when I was evacuated that I had forgotten my insulin," he said. "I had to come back up and tell the police. I gave a police man a key and he went into my home to get it. I don't know how long we will be out, maybe a couple of hours, maybe overnight.

"In our block of flats that were evacuated there is a lady who suffers from COPD who lives at the bottom. She doesn't be in good health and has to spend most of the time inside. This is a terrible inconvenience for her. In the houses beside us there are other people with diabetes like me and some older people. They are all out of their homes tonight.

"I just don't understand why anyone would plant anything in a housing estate where people, particularly older people, live. It makes no sense."

Local SDLP Councillor Brian Tierney said that the incident has caused much distress and disruption to families in the area.

"I think this it the fourth incident of its kind in the last two weeks," he said. "We have met with senior PSNI officers and we have discussed ways we think it should be tackled. This is a community issue and the people of Carnhill will come out tomorrow morning and condemn this attack."

The PSNI said: "There is an ongoing security alert in the Carnhill area of the city. Some homes are being evacuated to Templemore Sports complex. We appreciate the public’s patience."

IMAGE: Resident Thomas McAuley says many young families have been disrupted as a result of the alert.

IMAGE: SDLP Councillor Brian Tierney on scene to reassure residents amid the security alert last night.