Police investigate viable explosive device delivered to Londonderry hotel

Police in Northern Ireland say dissident republicans are one possible line of inquiry after a viable explosive device was delivered in a package to The Ebrington hotel in Londonderry. The PSNI said the investigation was at an early stage and officers were keeping an open mind about who was responsible.

The package was discovered at about 15:20 GMT on Tuesday at the hotel in Ebrington Square. Ammunition Technical Officers carried out a controlled explosion, and the device was taken away for forensic examination. People at the hotel and staff at neighbouring premises were evacuated.

PSNI Chief Superintendent Gillian Kearney described the incident as “shameful and utterly abhorrent” and appealed for anyone with information to contact police.

A local policing partnership chair suggested the incident might be connected to an RAF stall at a careers event held at the hotel in September. Sinn Féin councillor Christopher Jackson said it was too early to speculate about a link. Police have not confirmed a motive.

The alert came during the city’s Halloween celebrations. Politicians condemned the incident, with Justice Minister Naomi Long calling it dangerous and saying the device had been placed near families and young people.