Residents return to homes following security alert

A security alert in Londonderry which resulted in residents being advised to leave their homes has now ended.

Police carried out searches following reports that a susect device had been left in the Currynierin area of the city but said nothing untoward was found.

Cordons were put in place at Elm Close and Ridgeway Drive following reports that a device had been left in Tullymore Road, but these have now been lifted.

Residents have been advised they can return home after they were evacuated as a precautionary measure.

Officers attended the scene together with assistance from Air Support Unit (ASU) and Ammunition Technical Officers (ATO) who conducted enquiries in the area.

Sinn Féin councillor Christopher Jackson told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme on Wednesday that he was angered by the level of disruption the security alert caused in the run-up to Christmas.

The many people who left their homes including a heavily-pregnant woman, he said.

"I saw scores of people leaving their homes with their arms full of Christmas presents, fearing they would not be allowed back.

"When everyone else is rushing around getting last-minute things done for Christmas and getting ready, so many people were facing uncertainty over their Christmas.

"There is someone out there who made this happen because police, from what we were told, were acting on intelligence and information that led them to believe there was a viable device there and that people were unsafe."

He said whoever was behind the alert had shown "complete disregard" for the community.