THE NIE van burned out by dissident republicans in Derry this week
TRANSPORT NI have put on extra staff in gritter lorries across Derry this weekend to thwart off the threat from dissident republicans.
The security precautions came after a gang of masked men threatened a driver while he was out gritting the Alder Road around 6 am on Friday.
They told him that an object had been placed in the lorry and ordered him to drive it to Strand Road police station.
However, he refused and was assaulted by one of the men.
The terrified driver then drove the lorry half way to the station before stopping on Madam’s Bank Road and alert the PSNI.
The area was sealed off and Army Technical Officers were tasked to the scene.
Following an examination, the PSNI said nothing was found in the vehicle.
Transport NI put on extra staff on the lorries on Saturday night. More staff will be out again tonight on the gritter trucks.
The situation will be reviewed tomorrow.
The attack on the gritter driver was the second incident in a few days.
Earlier last week a NIE van was burned in the Creggan after dissident republicans claimed to have put a bomb inside.
However, nothing was found in the van following an examination.
