Originally published on BBC
A pipe bomb has exploded in a van in Londonderry in what police have described as a “reckless attack”.
Police were called to Knockwellan Park in the Waterside area just before 22:00 GMT on Saturday after a report that the vehicle was in flames.
On arrival, “it became clear that the cause of the fire had been the detonation of a pipe bomb-type device,” said PSNI Det Sgt Richard Donnell.
There were no reports of any injuries.
However, parts of the device remained at the scene after the fire so the area was cordoned off and Army experts were deployed to make it safe.
They recovered the remnants of the device and took them away further forensic examination.
The operation continued until 02:00 GMT on Sunday.
“This was a reckless attack carried out in a residential area with no consideration given as to who this device could have injured or killed,” said Det Sgt Donnell.
He said those responsible were “a danger to us all” and he appealed anyone with information about the incident to contact police.
Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said the attack was a “moronic” attempt to “intimidate and kill in our community”.
In a tweet, the SDLP leader added: “The people of Derry do not want this mindless violence. Stop now.”
Sinn Féin’s Martina Anderson said it was the latest in “a series of attacks” in the area this year, and PSNI should “step up its effort to bring these criminal gangs to book”.
The Foyla MLA added: “Those behind this attack have nothing to offer the community and need to end these reckless actions immediately.”
