Dungiven: DUP MP condemns those behind pipe bomb alert

Those responsible for planting a viable pipe bomb in Dungiven offer nothing to the local community, a DUP MP has said.

Four men have been arrested after the device was found at Curragh Road near Dungiven on Sunday.

The DUP's Gregory Campbell has said he is aware of reports claiming dissident republicans may be responsible.

The alert, which began on Saturday ended on Monday but police have warned of claims that a second device may still be in the area.

The Irish News has reported Arm na Poblachta (ANP), the smallest of the dissident republican groups, claimed to have targeted police at two locations in the area on Friday night.

Mr Campbell said a "very small number of people can wreak havoc and cause massive disturbance" and appealed for information.

Police said the viable device found on Sunday was made safe and has since been taken away for forensic examination.

Some homes in the area had to be evacuated during the alert.

A 55-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences.

Three others aged 55, 22 and 35, who were arrested earlier on Monday in connection with the alert remain in police custody.

"There needs to be total and outright condemnation for this," Mr Campbell told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today.

"The wider Dungiven and Claudy area has, for whatever reason, been targeted by it would appear to be dissident republicans.

"Whether it's pipe bombs, whether it's other potential attacks on former members of security forces, over the past two or three years there has been a number of incidents which are concerning.

"What we need to see is the entire community unite against this and give whatever information they have to police."

Mr Campbell said he was aware of the reports of the claim of responsibility and said the wider community must assist police with every line of inquiry.

Foyle SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan also condemned the security alert and said he intends to raise concerns at the Northern Ireland Policing Board next week.

"It is always worrying when there are explosive devices and weapons on our streets, but it is particularly worrying whenever we hear the target of those explosive devices are police," he said.

Mr Durkan said the alert in Dungiven demonstrates there is an ongoing threat against police.

Speaking on Monday, area commander for Causeway Coast and Glens, Supt Mark Roberts said a call was received using a recognised code word claiming there had been an attack on PSNI officers.

Supt Roberts said that two devices had then been left at the junction of the Curragh Road with Garvagh Road and the Old Foreglen Road.

He said: "We have as yet been unable to corroborate the claims of an attack".

The senior officer also said that following comprehensive specialist search of an 11-mile stretch of road since Saturday, nothing else untoward has been found.

"The people responsible should be ashamed of themselves for placing local people at risk by leaving a viable device in the heart of a community not to mention the disruption they caused to this community as police worked tirelessly to keep people safe."

Sinn Féin councillor Sean McGlinchey described the security alert as "despicable and totally unacceptable".