Police revisit the scene fo the attempt to murder a police with an undercar booby trap bomb
DETECTIVES from the PSNI’s Terrorist Investigation Unit have returned to the scene of a booby trap bomb bid on a police officer in Co Derry last month.
His Catholic PSNI officer wife disturbed the bomber as he placed the device under their car parked in the driveway of their home in Glenrandel, Eglinton on June 18.
She noticed him around 2.45 am lying beside the car and knocked the window. The male figure then ran off.
Last night, Wednesday, July 1, officers mounted checkpoints at various parts of the village and spoke to motorists and residents in the hope of gleaning new information about the bombers.
Leaflets with “detailed appeal points” were handed out to anyone who spoke to police.
Detective Chief Inspector Gareth Talbot, who is leading the investigation, said: “It is surprising just how many people were out and about in the early hours of Thursday, 18 June in Eglinton.
“We want to make sure we have spoken to each and every one of them to ensure every possible piece of information has been fed into our investigation.
“This was an attempt to kill a police officer and his family. It also posed a risk to other residents and caused considerable disruption and upset to the local community.”
He said police want to speak to anyone who saw individuals or vehicles in the Glenrandel area of Eglinton between midnight and 3 am on Thursday, June 18.
“We are also interested in hearing from anyone who noticed anything unusual or suspicious in Glenrandel in the two weeks before 18 June,” he added.
“Our inquiries are continuing. Five arrests have been made, vehicles seized and properties searched in various parts of Northern Ireland and in the Republic.
“We have conducted a trawl of CCTV and are continuing to liaise with colleagues in An Garda Síochána [Irish police].”
The wife of the officer targeted is also a member of the PSNI.
All five people arrested over the attack have since been released without charge.
Three men were arrested within hours of the murder bid in Co Donegal. Garda detectives are sending a file to the DPP in Dublin on their case.
A 27-year-old man was arrested in Eglinton but was later released unconditionally.
And last week a 54-year-old man was arrested in Lurgan for questioning.
He too was released unconditionally.
Tags: