PSNI officers 'incredibly lucky' to have survived explosion in Strabane last night

Local residents have been asked to leave their homes to facilitate a PSNI inquiry.

WHILE OUT ON patrol in the Tyrone town of Strabane last night, a “device” exploded close to police officers in the area of Townsend Street.

Today, the PSNI has said that its officers were “incredibly lucky” to have survived an attempt to kill them that also put other members of the community at risk.

The explosion occurred at around 8.30pm last night.

Officers have asked some local residents to leave their homes while they investigate the matter.

PSNI Superintendent Gordon McCalmont said: “While we are unable to go into specifics of the incident at this stage, I am confident in saying that we are incredibly lucky that the lives of officers and other members of the community were not lost last night.”

McCalmont added that the PSNI understood the inconvenience caused to local residents while they conduct inquiries, and asked for anyone with information about the incident to come forward.

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