PSNI officers attacked after call to scene of Derry/Londonderry alert

Q Radio News/PA

PSNI officers have been attacked with stones after attending the scene where a suspicious object was discovered.

Police attended to protect a bomb disposal unit that was sent to the scene at the Templemore Road, in a predominantly nationalist part of Derry/Londonderry.

The incident was subsequently declared an “elaborate hoax” by police, and a security alert was stood down shortly after 9pm.

PSNI officers have come under attack after attending the scene where a suspicious object was discovered. They were protecting a bomb disposal unit at Templemore Road, in a mainly nationalist part of Derry/Londonderry. Objects including stones and pieces of wood were thrown. pic.twitter.com/sjCnBCh3Uw

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) April 5, 2021

A PSNI statement said: “Police and ATO (ammunition technical officer) examined a suspicious object, which was discovered in the area at around 4.20pm this afternoon, and have declared it an elaborate hoax.”

Roads were closed and the public asked to keep away after the alarm was raised on Easter Monday.

Pictures show a number of youths attacking a PSNI vehicle, hurling stones and pieces of wood.

A small child joins a group of nationalist youths attacking police tonight during a security alert in the Templemore Road area of Derry/Londonderry.

The PSNI has now come under attack from loyalists and nationalists in the city during recent days.

Pics: Photopress. pic.twitter.com/WvpWKemUmR

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) April 5, 2021

Video captured from the scene that circulate on social media showed a number of youths being chased away by riot vehicles.

It follows several nights of unrest in loyalist areas in both the North West and Belfast.

However, the incident is not linked to the unrest in unionist communities seen in the last week.

A PSNI statement said: “Police are currently attending a report of a suspicious object located at the Templemore Road area of Derry/Londonderry this evening.

“A number of roads in the area have been closed and members of the public are asked to avoid the area whilst the object is examined.”