Feels like a bad direction to be heading again… If only the Tories hadn’t lied their arses off about what Brexit meant. (Brexit means Brexit, of course)
LIVE updates as bomb found under car of serving police officer
MLA Cara Hunter has condemned the attack
Updated13:43, 20 APR 2021
A device has been placed under the car of a serving female police officer in Co Derry, it has emerged.
MLA Cara Hunter has condemned the attempted attack on the PSNI officer which was discovered on Monday in the Dungiven area.
Details on what has occurred are just emerging on Tuesday afternoon and a security alert is ongoing in the area.
Ms Hunter, an SDLP MLA, said that no one should “live in fear” while they are trying to do their work and that police officers protect and keep communities safe every day.
She said: "I fully condemn the attack of a serving police officer in Dungiven yesterday with a device left on their car.
"No one should have to live in fear of going to work.
“Our officers protect our communities everyday and keep them safe.”
She added: “My thoughts are with the officer and their families.”
In a statement, First Minister Arlene Foster said: "I have spoken to the police officer who was targeted by terrorists last night in County Londonderry. I wanted to convey our support and utter condemnation of those who sought to harm her & her family. Reckless and futile. We salute her bravery and long service to our community.
“There will be political disagreements, but Northern Ireland must keep moving forward. We will not be dragged back to bombs & bullets.”
The security alert is ongoing and people are asked to avoid the area. We have contacted the PSNI for a comment.
Please follow our live blog below for updates on this emerging story.
13:43
Connor Lynch
SDLP leader issues statement on attack
Social Democratic and Labour Party Leader Colum Eastwood MP has condemned an attempt to murder a serving police officer near Dungiven after a device was discovered under her car.
The Foyle MP said that politicians from all shades of opinion should join with civic leaders to oppose those who have rejected the will of the people of Ireland.
Colum Eastwood MP said: “Today’s attack on a serving member of the PSNI is an appalling attempt to murder a young woman who stood up and chose to serve her community. The cowards behind it could not be further removed from the bravery and compassion of officers who put themselves in harm’s way every day to keep our communities safe.
“Violence in pursuit of political goals has never been endorsed by the people of this island. Those who are waging a campaign of violence against members of our community need to understand, and we need to make them understand, that they are not in a fight with the PSNI or with Britain, they have chosen a fight with the people of Ireland who overwhelmingly endorsed peace. It is a fight that they will never win.
“Anyone with information should come forward to the police. We need a whole community response and total community opposition to those seeing to murder and maim our neighbours.”
13:35
Connor Lynch
‘Dissident republicans trying to exert their influence’
George Robinson MLA said: "In recent weeks the entire Limavady DUP team met with senior Police on two occasions to highlight our concerns that dissident republicans were trying to exert their influence and recruit in the wider Roe Valley area. Indeed, we highlighted that we had a fear that given how dissidents were being heavily monitored in the City of Londonderry that they would attempt to extend their violent activities to this area and that members of the Policing and security force family would be their targets.
“Todays events has reinforced our fears and turned them into reality. Our thoughts are with this Part-time Officer and her Family and we make a plea for anyone who has any scrap of evidence that they come forward to ensure that the perpetrators behind this latest action are caught and dealt with.”
13:33
Connor Lynch
Mike Nesbitt condemns attack
The Ulster Unionist Party’s Policing spokesperson, Mike Nesbitt MLA, has condemned an attempt to murder a police officer in Dungiven.
Mike Nesbitt said: “Once again violent dissident republicans have sought to murder a police officer, and in response we must all stand in solidarity with this officer and the PSNI.
“This is a very disturbing incident, involving the use of a viable device which was clearly an attempt to take life.
“23 years on from the Belfast Agreement there is simply no place for those who were offered an inclusive future and have chosen to reject it.
“My thoughts are with the officer and their family and colleagues.”
12:59
Connor Lynch
Mervyn Storey and Gregory Campbell condemn attack
DUP representatives Mervyn Storey & Gregory Campbell have condemned those behind an explosive device recovered from the vehicle of a police officer near Dungiven.
Mr Storey who is the DUP lead on the Policing Board said, "This was an obvious attempt to murder a police officer and it is a stark reminder of the threat all those who keep us safe still face. Those who attempt to use violence, threat and intimidation to achieve their aims have no place in our society and must be brought to justice.
“My thoughts are with the officer and her family at this time and with all those officers on the frontline who serve so courageously and deserve our full and unequivocal support."
East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell said, "Attacks on the lives of police officers are wrong now and have always been so, they must be condemned. Wider society needs to stand united against the perpetrators and help bring them to justice.
“Those warped tactics did not succeed in the past and they cannot be allowed to succeed now. It is essential that a united and clear message goes out that terrorism is never justified and must always be condemned. I would appeal for anyone with information to pass it to the police."
12:46
Connor Lynch
‘Nothing short of attempted murder’
East Derry MLA Caoimhe Archibald said: "I completely condemn those who left a device under the car of a police officer near Dungiven.
" This is nothing short of attempted murder.
"Those responsible have absolutely nothing to offer society but more suffering.
" Anyone with info on the attack should report it to police."
12:43
Connor Lynch
‘This was a despicable action’
MLA Gary Middleton said: “My thoughts are with the officer at this time. This was a despicable action by those who continue to try and cause murder and mayhem. We cannot go back.”
12:39
Connor Lynch
Police issue statement on attack
ACC Mark McEwan, Head of the PSNI’s Crime Operations Department, said: “I can confirm that the device is viable and investigations are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.
“We are treating this as an attack on a member of staff who also serves her community as a part time police officer.”
12:37
Connor Lynch
Gerry Kelly condemns attack
Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly has spoken out against the attack on a police officer in Dungiven.
He said: "The discovery of a device under the car of a young female police officer near Dungiven is disgraceful and I condemn it utterly.
"Thankfully she wasn’t hurt but we could have been facing a very different scenario.
"At a time of increased community tensions this is the last thing that anyone wants to see.
"Those behind this reckless attack have absolutely nothing to offer society but more suffering and they have shown a callous disregard for the entire community.
"They need to bring their futile actions to an end.
“I appeal to anyone with information on this attack to report it to the police.”
12:30
Connor Lynch
Deputy First Minister condemns attack
Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill has said that the attack on a police officer on Co Derry is “reprehensible”.
She said: "The attempted murder of a police officer near Dungiven is reprehensible.
"Those involved in this attack will not succeed in their regressive and toxic agenda.
"All politicians must unite against these reckless actions.
"We must keep building the peace for our children.
12:28
Connor Lynch
First Ministers ‘stands with officer’
Ms Foster continued: "I stand, as does my entire party with the brave woman targeted by Republicans and utterly condemn those who have sought to harm her and her family. I give thanks that she has survived this dreadful murder attempt and when I spoke to this lady earlier I gave her my support and indeed solidarity and this difficult time.
“To the Republicans who sought to murder this young murder, your campaign is futile, you will never succeed and while there may always be difficult political views in Northern Ireland, we will keep moving forward and we will not be dragged back by bombers or those who seek to use the gun to get their own political way.”
12:24
Connor Lynch
First Minister has spoken to officer
The First Minister has spoken to the officer who was targeted in Co Derry and saluted her bravery.
She said: "I have spoken to the police officer who was targeted by terrorists last night in County Londonderry. I wanted to convey our support and utter condemnation of those who sought to harm her & her family. Reckless and futile. We salute her bravery and long service to our community.
“There will be political disagreements, but Northern Ireland must keep moving forward. We will not be dragged back to bombs & bullets.”
12:21
Connor Lynch
