PSNI arrest three after mortar find in Derry

Police evacuated about 100 homes today after they discovered a “suspicious object”, reported to be three mortars, in a van, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said.

Army experts were called to the Letterkenny Road area of Derry after they discovered the device last night, which, according to Sky News, was three mortars.

Two men aged 35 and 37 were arrested and police are linking the incident with dissident republican activity.

Detectives later arrested a third man today in connection with the security alert following a search of a property in the city, a PSNI spokesman said.

The 37-year-old was taken to the Antrim serious crime suite for questioning.

A PSNI spokesman said: ``Police are currently dealing with a security alert in the Letterkenny Road area of Derry, following the discovery of a suspicious object in a vehicle.

“Approximately 100 homes have been evacuated and army technical officers are at the scene.

“Two males aged 35 and 37 have been arrested and taken to Antrim serious crime suite where they are helping with inquiries.

“Detectives from PSNI serious crime branch are dealing with the incident and are linking it with dissident republican activity.”

The vehicle was stopped at the junction of Letterkenny Road and Lone Moor Road in the west of Derry last night.

Sky News reported that police intercepted a van carrying three mortars and a motorbike before they arrested the two men.

The incident comes just days before a by-election to replace Martin McGuinness as MP for Mid Ulster, after Stormont’s Deputy First Minister resigned his Westminster seat as part of his party’s policy to end double-jobbing in politics.

The four contenders for Thursday’s by-election are Sinn Féin Assembly Member Francie Molloy, independent Nigel Lutton, the Social Democratic and Labour Party’s Patsy McGlone and Eric Bullick of the cross-community Alliance Party.