Police dealing with second bomb scare in N.I. housing estate - four masked men with gun hijack delivery van

The P.S.N.I. is at the scene of a second security alert in a Northern Ireland housing estate.
A P.S.N.I officer at the scene of one of the security alerts in Londonderry. (Photo: Pacemaker)A P.S.N.I officer at the scene of one of the security alerts in Londonderry. (Photo: Pacemaker)
A P.S.N.I officer at the scene of one of the security alerts in Londonderry. (Photo: Pacemaker)

The second security alert, which is in the Southway area of Londonderry, is in within walking distance of an ongoing security alert in the Circular Road area of the Creggan housing estate.

Superintendent Gordon McCalmont said: "Just before 1:45pm this afternoon, we received a report a delivery driver's vehicle had been hijacked on Southway by four masked men, one of them who is reported to have had a gun. The two occupants in the van were ordered to drive the vehicle to the Lonemoor Road and leave it there. "We are in the process of implementing a public safety operation, establishing cordons and evacuating a number of homes. "Sadly, within two hours today, we are dealing with a second security alert in the City, which means even more disruption for the local community. "I know this second security alert and the measures we are taking to keep people safe will cause significant inconvenience for the local community, but we have no choice. "I want to ask the public for their patience, and thank them for their co-operation while we work to make the scene safe."

The two security alerts come less than 48 hours after a car, which was abandoned outside the Londonderry courthouse, exploded in the city centre on Saturday evening.

The P.S.N.I. believe dissident republicans were responsible for Saturday's attack.