A 37-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested in connection with the attempted murder of an off-duty police officer in Derry earlier this year.

A viable “under-vehicle improvised explosive device” was discovered at the home of the officer in the Ardanlee area on 22 February.

The man was arrested in the Ballymagroarty area under the Terrorism Act and has been taken to Musgrave Serious Crime Suite where he is being questioned by police.

Detective Inspector Peter McKenna said that if the device had exploded in February with the police officer and his young family in the car “it would have had devastating consequences”.

‘Cowardly attack’ 

“Police believe the New IRA are responsible for this cowardly attack during which they put everyone’s safety at risk as the device was left in a residential area and could have exploded at any time.

“I would like to thank the public for their assistance to date but I believe there are still people in the community who hold vital pieces of information that could assist police,” McKenna said.

He urged anyone with information to contact detectives on 101 or, alternatively, to give information anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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