The damaged entrance to the Everglades Hotel following this morning’s firebomb attack.
The PSNI “must bear responsibility” for this morning’s firebomb attack on the Everglades Hotel in Derry, newly elected councillor Gary Donnelly has said.
The lobby of the Waterside Hotel was extensively damaged after the device exploded at around 2.00am.
Staff and over 50 guests were evacuated from the hotel after a masked man placed the device, which was in a holdhall, on the reception desk at around 11.15pm and told staff he was from the IRA and they had 40 minutes to get out.
Cllr Gary Donnelly.
According to local police commander, Chief Superintendent Stephen Cargin, the device “burst into a ball of flames” as a British army bomb disposal expert was about to examine it.
No one was injured in the incident.
It is believed the hotel was targeted as it recently hosted a PSNI recruitment event.
Speaking to Derry Daily, Cllr Donnelly, a well-known dissident republican supporter and prominent member of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement who last week was elected as an Independent onto the new Derry City and Strabane District Council, said the PSNI “bore a responsibility” for the attack.
He said: “The first thing I knew about it was when I woke this morning and heard it on the radio.
“There is a responsibility on those carrying out such attacks to ensure no members of the public are injured.”
He added: “The PSNI must take responsibility for using public venues for recruitment and promoting propaganda.”
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