REPORTS that “two devices’ have been left in Derry this evening have inconvenienced thousands of motorists and weekend revellers attending the city’s jazz and blues festival.
The latest security alerts are at the Strand Road and Culmore Road.
Both roads have been closed whilst searches of premises are carried out.
Da Vinci’s Hotel on the Culmore Road is believed to have been evacuated.
Motorists and members of the public are asked to avoid the area.
The alerts are causing widespread traffic disruption across the city.
It is four security alert in the city in the past two days, with hoax devices left at the homes of the parents of serving police officers.
SDLP Mayor-elect John Boyle said he condemned the alerts in the strongest terms possible ahead of the Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival taking place this weekend.
Cllr Boyle said that the PSNI had received phone warnings about the devices but had been provided with “very little information”.
“Here we have a weekend that this city has been looking forward to for a long time, the sun is out and there are thousands of visitors in the city,” councillor Boyle said.
“There are those in our community who see fit to wreck all before them, the good work of the council and local people and threaten the employment prospects of local people by this sort of action.
“They have inconvenienced thousands of travellers in rush hour in the city, people are struggling to get home, collect children and I cannot condemn it strongly enough.
“It is a downright disgrace and I hope those involved are proud of themselves.”
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan said: “This is simply disgraceful and those responsible need to know that they do not represent anyone in this City. This is the fourth security alert in the City in the space of a few days – this must stop.
“The ongoing alert has caused widespread disruption as people make their way back from work and children en route home from school. This is a big weekend in the City with the jazz festival on and instead of showcasing how great Derry is to visitors – those responsible do this.
“I’ll continue to work with police to ensure that the public are safe. Going forward the entire community must be united to say this is not in our name and those behind these reckless acts should just go away and get off our backs.”
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