The PSNI have asked for people’s patience, and urged people to stay away from the area
Police in Northern Ireland are investigating a suspected car bomb in Derry, after an explosion occurred outside a courthouse.
The local PSNI Twitter account posted a photograph from the incident on Bishop Street, showing a vehicle on fire after an explosion was reported.
Bishop Street Closed
STAY AWAY
Suspected Car Bomb pic.twitter.com/S3cFu3zy0i
— Police Derry City and Strabane (@PSNIDCSDistrict) January 19, 2019
Police have also taken to Twitter to ask the public to stay away from the area, in a message which read:
“Police are in attendance at the scene of an incident in Derry City Centre. We would ask for patience and co-operation of the public and the business community as we carry out our initial investigations.”
Police are in attendance at the scene of an incident in Derry/Londonderry city centre. We would ask for patience and co-operation of the public and the business community as we carry out our initial investigations. Any info to 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
— Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) January 19, 2019
Mark Durkan, a Social Democratic and Labour Party politician in Northern Ireland, took to Twitter to condemn the actions.
Whoever is responsible for this explosion outside Bishop Street Courthouse in Derry clearly hasn't got the message that the people of Derry DO NOT want this on our streets. We are trying to move Derry forward and will not let anyone drag us back to the dark days of the past. pic.twitter.com/PvtEIhJnU0
— Mark H Durkan (@MarkHDurkan) January 19, 2019