DCI Una Jennings said the bomb was a trap to lure police and killer officers

THE bomb discovered outside a house on the outskirts of Derry yesterday was intended to kill police officers, the PSNI has said.

Up to 30 families were moved from their homes following the discovery of the viable device outside a house at Ballyarnett Village late yesterday afternoon.

A group calling itself the ‘IRA’ has claimed responsibility for leaving the bomb.

The shadowy group admitted leaving the bomb trap in atelephone warning to the offices of the Derry News newspaper.

Police revealed today they received a report at around midnight on Sunday that there was a burglary in progress at the house and  were unable to authenticate the call.

A number of local organisations and community representatives were then contacted on Monday morning informing them a bomb had been left at the address.

PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Una Jennings  said the sequence of events led police to believe the device had been left to “lure police” into the area in an attempt to murder them.

She said the device had not targeted against any members of the public and that police believed  dissident republicans may have been behind the incident.

She added: “I believe that these people are ruthless, and they are absolutely determined to kill or maim people, specifically police officers.”