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galliagh
Residents refuse to leave homes before bomb scare revealed as 'elaborate hoax' in Derry
One woman walked right by the suspicious device on her way out of her home, the PSNI said.
POLICE IN THE North declared a suspicious object safe in the Galliagh area of Derry, after discovering it was “an elaborate hoax”.
Some residents refused to leave the area, and one walked right by the suspect device, before the scene was declared safe in Derry yesterday.
The PSNI said that while security operations of this nature bring “significant disruption to the community and present challenges to the PSNI as they attempt to minimise disruption”, this was done to ensure the public was safe.
Inspector Marty Mullan said: “We attended the area following reports of a suspicious object and ATO were tasked. We called to a number of homes in Glengalliagh Park and advised residents to leave their homes.
Some residents agreed to leave their homes, however a number of residents declined and were advised to remain inside their homes and take appropriate precautions.
A resident left their home and walked past the suspicious object while attempts were ongoing to make the object safe. We spoke to the resident immediately after and, although she was shaken, she was uninjured.
Police said investigations are ongoing.
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