PSNI operation criticised by Sinn Féin

Sinn Féin in Derry has accused the PSNI of "overkill" after a search operation carried out in the Bogside and Northland Road areas of the city on Friday morning 9 April. Former Sinn Féin Deputy Mayor of Derry, Peter Anderson, said that up to 12 PSNI Land Rovers arrived in the Bogside shortly after 9am to carry out searches at three homes.

One of the homes searched belonged to a 65-year-old woman who lives alone with her disabled son. "This woman and her son were was extremely upset at being wakened out of their sleep by the PSNI", said Anderson. The home of the woman's neighbour was also searched by the PSNI.

"The people whose homes were raided by the PSNI are extremely upset that they were targeted," said Anderson, who said the PSNI had admitted they carried out the searches in response to last week's hoax bomb alert at the home of SDLP Derry Assembly member Pat Ramsey.