People in the community still hold vital clues about a dissident republican bomb attack on an off-duty police officer exactly one year ago, police have said.
The under-car booby trap device was discovered in the driveway of the policeman’s home at Ardanlee in the Culmore area of Londonderry on February 22, 2017.
It is believed to have fallen from his vehicle when he drove off and detonated as Army disposal experts were approaching.
No one was injured.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal found at home of PSNI officer in Londonderry a year ago (PSNI/PA)
Detective Inspector Peter McKenna, from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s (PSNI) Serious Crime Branch, said: “If this device had exploded with our colleague and his young family in the car, it would have had devastating consequences.”
The New IRA has been blamed for the attack which police have linked with another attack in the village of Ballyarnett in October 2014, when police were lured into an area by dissidents intent on murder.
DI McKenna said: “We believe the New IRA is responsible for both attacks and that similar types of pressure plate devices were used on both occasions.”
So far, four people have been arrested and four properties searched – but no charges have been brought in connection with the attack.
Police believe the bomb was planted under the officer’s car while he was home with his family at night.
DI McKenna said: “There are still people in the community who hold vital pieces of information that could assist police. I would urge those people to think about the information they hold, and to do the right thing and phone the police.
“I urge them to think ‘what if this was your loved one?’
“I want to hear from anyone who saw people or vehicles moving in and around the area of Ardanlee between 5pm on February 21, 2017 and 7am on February 22, 2017.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the PSNI at Maydown.