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21st Jan 2019

Police in Derry responding to second security threat after van hijacked at gunpoint

Alan Loughnane

Derry security alert

Up to four masked men hijacked the vehicle.

Police in Derry are now dealing with a second security alert in the Southway area of the City.

Just before 1.45pm on Monday afternoon, police received a report that a delivery driver’s vehicle had been hijacked on Southway by four masked men, one of whom is reported to have had a gun.

The two occupants in the van were ordered to drive the vehicle to the Lonemoor Road and leave it there.

This is the second security alert in Derry on Monday as houses have been evacuated in the Circular Road area of the city due to an ongoing security alert there.

Commenting on the incident, Superintendent Gordon McCalmont said: “We are in the process of implementing a public safety operation, establishing cordons and evacuating a number of homes.

“Sadly, within two hours today, we are dealing with a second security alert in the City, which means even more disruption for the local community.

“I know this second security alert and the measures we are taking to keep people safe will cause significant inconvenience for the local community, but we have no choice.

“I want to ask the public for their patience, and thank them for their co-operation while we work to make the scene safe.”

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