The Catholic bishop of Derry has expressed his shock “at the reckless disregard for the sanctity of human life” by the planting of a bomb at Bishop Street in the city on Sunday evening.
In a statement on Monday, Bishop Seamus Hegarty said the bomb, which was left near the courthouse in Derry, and which was described by the PSNI as a substantial, viable device, had caused “untold anxiety to the local residents, including elderly and vulnerable people in Alexander House.”
He said the care shown for the elderly residents from Alexander House was in stark contrast to “the irresponsible behaviour of those who planted the bomb.”
Forty elderly residents from Alexander House were among those evacuated while British Army bomb experts carried out a series of controlled explosions on the bomb, which was made from 50kg of homemade explosives packed into a beer keg.
The device was left in a stolen vehicle in a car park near the courthouse in Derry.
PSNI Chief Superintendent Stephen Martin said that had the bomb exploded, it could have killed those in the vicinity.
Dissident republicans are being blamed.
Bishop Hegarty appealed to those involved in bombings and in recent shootings, “to reflect on the consequences of their actions and to respect the wishes of the overwhelming majority of people in our city who desire to live in peace.”
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