Viable explosive device targeted female PSNI officer

A viable explosive device has been discovered outside a property linked to a serving police officer in Co Londonderry.
By Mark Rainey
Published 20th Apr 2021, 11:08 BST
Updated 20th Apr 2021, 17:45 BST
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The alert was raised on Monday morning and a major security operation was put into place around the Ballyquinn Road in Dungiven.

On Tuesday, Assistant Chief Constable 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.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We are treating this as an attack on a member of staff who also serves her community as a part time police officer.”

PSNI vehicles block a road during a security operation which has been ongoing since Monday on the Ballyquin Road after a viable explosive device was found close to the home, in a rural area close to Dungiven, of a member of the Police Service of Northern Ireland in Co Londonderry. Pic: Niall Carson/PA WirePSNI vehicles block a road during a security operation which has been ongoing since Monday on the Ballyquin Road after a viable explosive device was found close to the home, in a rural area close to Dungiven, of a member of the Police Service of Northern Ireland in Co Londonderry. Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire
PSNI vehicles block a road during a security operation which has been ongoing since Monday on the Ballyquin Road after a viable explosive device was found close to the home, in a rural area close to Dungiven, of a member of the Police Service of Northern Ireland in Co Londonderry. Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Announcing the road closure, the PSNI said: “The Ballyquinn Road, Dungiven is closed at the junctions with the Camnish Road and the Curragh Road this morning (Monday 19th April), following a report of a suspicious object in the area.

“Motorists are advised to avoid the area and seek alternative main routes for their journey.”

Shortly before midnight, a further police statement said that the road was expected to remain closed for some time.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

READ: Dungiven bomb attack: Foster and O’Neill’s support for targeted female PSNI officer

The Ballyquinn Road in DungivenThe Ballyquinn Road in Dungiven
The Ballyquinn Road in Dungiven

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers — and consequently the revenue we receive — we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad
PSNIPSNI
PSNI

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Alistair Bushe

Editor