Explosive device hurled at police officers in the North

An improvised explosive device was thrown at a police foot patrol in the North today.

None of the officers were injured in the Meadowbrook area of Craigavon, Co Armagh, this morning.

Meanwhile, a small but viable pipe bomb has been discovered in Carnhill, Derry.

Police Service of Northern Ireland Craigavon district commander chief superintendent Alasdair Robinson said: “This was a mindless attack on police officers just trying to do their jobs. It is by sheer good fortune that one of those officers was not killed or seriously injured.”

The police were neighbourhood officers doing community-based work.

The Derry alert, which caused a number of homes to be evacuated, is continuing this evening.

Police received reports of a suspicious object in the Carnhill estate at 9.30am this morning.