Latest: Two men in their 20s have been arrested in connection with a car bomb attack in Derry last night, the police have confirmed.

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said that their main line of inquiry was that the dissident republican group, the New IRA, were behind the car bomb attack.

"Our main line of inquiry is against the New IRA," he said.

"The New IRA, like most dissident republican groups in Northern Ireland, is small, largely unrepresentative, and determined to drag people back to somewhere they don't want to be."

Earlier, the PSNI said the attack was "unbelievably reckless" and said they believe that the car had been "hijacked" in the city a short time before the explosion.

The scene of a suspected car bomb on Bishop Street in Derry. (Steven McAuley/PA)

Politicians have condemned the incident, with Tanaiste Simon Coveney saying that there is "no place and no justification possible for such acts of terror".

Derry's SDLP mayor John Boyle challenged those responsible on what the aim was, while DUP leader Arlene Foster said it was a "pointless act of terror" which "must be condemned in the strongest terms".

Northern Ireland Secretary of State Karen Bradley has said those behind the bomb attack will not prevail.

"This attempt to disrupt progress in Northern Ireland has rightly been met with utter condemnation from all parts of the community," she said.

"The small number of people responsible have absolutely nothing to offer Northern Ireland's future and will not prevail.

"Thank you to the PSNI and emergency services who are working so hard to keep people safe and secure."

Police have described last night's suspected car bomb attack outside a court in Derry as "unbelievably reckless".

The PSNI are investigating after the incident occurred in the city centre at 8.10pm last night.

The vehicle was consumed by flames (Steven McAuley/PA)

Residents were evacuated and witnesses reported hearing a loud bang and seeing a large plume of smoke.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said today that a suspicious vehicle was spotted by police 15 minutes before the device exploded.

He said they believe that the car had been "hijacked" in the city a short time before the explosion.

Constable Hamilton said: "At around 7.55pm last night officers on patrol in Bishop Street spotted a suspicious vehicle and were making checks when, around five minutes later, information was received that a device had been left at the courthouse.

"We moved immediately to begin evacuating people from nearby buildings including hundreds of hotel guests, 150 people from the Masonic Hall and a large number of children from a church youth club.

"The device detonated at 8.10pm. At this stage it appears as though the vehicle used had been hijacked from a delivery driver in the Quarry Street a short time before the explosion.

"The people responsible for this attack have shown no regard for the community or local businesses. They care little about the damage to the area and the disruption they have caused.

"The area remains sealed off and church services at St Augustine's have been moved to St Peters and the cathedral services have been cancelled this morning as a result.

Constable Hamilton thanked the local community for its support and co-operation and asked anyone with information to contact police.

An investigation by the PSNI is underway after a suspected car bomb exploded in Derry last night.

The police, as well as firefighters and the ambulance service, sealed off the scene close to a courthouse on Bishop Street in the city.

Handout photo taken from the PSNI Twitter page @PSNIDCSDistrict of the scene of a suspected car bomb on Bishop Street in Derry.

Witnesses earlier said they heard a loud bang and saw a large plume of smoke, and local residents were evacuated.

There has been no reports of any casualties at this stage.

A photograph was tweeted from the PSNI Twitter account warned people to stay away from the area.

The tweet from the PSNI's Derry City and Strabane District account also warned members of the public that Bishop Street was closed, adding the words "suspected car bomb".

A further update was posted on the PSNI's Foyle Facebook page.

"As far as we know no one injured. There is another car we are not happy about. There are ongoing necessary evacuations."

Tánaiste Simon Coveney tweeted his disgust at the incident.

"I utterly condemn the car bomb terrorist attack in Derry this evening," he said.

Derry's SDLP mayor John Boyle challenged those responsible on what the aim was.

He said: "I would actually like to ask the people responsible for this what it actually was that they thought they were going to achieve.

"It achieves nothing, it didn't achieve anything in the past, it didn't achieve anything right now.

"I have a question for them, what was this all about, because quite frankly this is not something that the people of this city wanted to see, it's not something they support, and as Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, I have to say I feel it incumbent upon me to speak out on behalf of the vast, vast majority of people in Derry, Strabane and indeed across this island, this is not what we want.

"This is the past and it has to stay in the past. We don't want to see any more of it."

DUP leader Arlene Foster said it was a "pointless act of terror" which "must be condemned in the strongest terms".

"Only hurts the people of the City. Perpetrated by people with no regard for life," she said.

"Grateful to our emergency services for their swift actions which helped ensure there have been no fatalities or injuries."

PSNI officers sealed off the area following the explosion (Steven McAuley/PA)

"This incident has shocked the local community," she said. "In particular, there are many elderly residents who live in the area who have been alarmed.

"Thankfully no-one appears to have been injured.

"Derry is a city moving forward and no-one wants this type of incident. It is not representative of the city.

"I would encourage anyone with information about this incident to bring it to the police."</s>The scene on the Northland Road outside St. Mary's College where a hijacked van was left on Monday night. Picture Martin McKeown.

Derry on alert: Police respond to reports of abandoned vehicle, homes evacuated BelfastTelegraph.co.uk Police in Londonderry are responding to a report of an abandoned vehicle on the Northland Road area of the city. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/derry-on-alert-police-respond-to-reports-of-abandoned-vehicle-homes-evacuated-37732335.html https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/incoming/article37735340.ece/abe4e/AUTOCROP/h342/tnorthland2101191.jpg

Email

Police in Londonderry are responding to a report of an abandoned vehicle on the Northland Road area of the city.

In a post on social media, PSNI Foyle said: "Folks we are responding to a report of an abandoned vehicle on the Northland Road close to the Glenbank Road junction. Please avoid the area at this time."

Folks we are responding to a report of an abandoned vehicle on the Northland Road close to the Glenbank Road junction. Please avoid the area at this time. Posted by PSNI Foyle on Monday, January 21, 2019

It is understood a delivery van was hijacked and has been left in the middle of the road.

Sad scenes, which I did not film of pensioners being evacuated from homes into the night. Frail, frightened 76-year-old man in his pyjamas being led into a car. I had to help 83-year-old Myra leave her home, another lady was standing crying in her dressing gown. #Derry pic.twitter.com/iBr1vznDJ8 — Leona O'Neill (@LeonaONeill1) January 21, 2019

Early reports from the scene state homes in the area have been evacuated.

Foyle SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan wrote on Twitter: "Another blow against the Empire... The third security alert of the day, this one on Northland Road will result in many elderly people having to leave their homes on an absolutely freezing night. Disgraceful."

Another blow against the Empire..the third security alert of the day,this one on Northland Road will result in many elderly people having to leave their homes on an absolutely freezing night. Disgraceful. pic.twitter.com/dtNoHKi1nb — Mark H Durkan (@MarkHDurkan) January 21, 2019

Police have also said there has been an attempted hijacking of a bus in the Moss road area of the city.

We appreciate there is a lot happening in the city tonight folks. It’s important we have the right information out... Posted by PSNI Foyle on Monday, January 21, 2019

The news comes following two security alerts in the city on Monday that are ongoing.

Army Technical Officers have carried out a controlled explosion on a hijacked van in Londonderry's Circular Road.

A second security alert is taking place less than a mile away on Southway after a Royal Mail van was hijacked at gunpoint and abandoned.

It comes after the Derry courthouse bomb attack on Saturday night.

A police car blocks, the scene at Southway wheere a second security alert is under way. Police are at the scene of a security alert in Londonderry. Photo: Martin McKeown. The scene at Circular Road in the Creggan area of Derry where a security operation is underway after reports of the hijacking of a van. Picture Martin McKeown.

Just before 1.45pm police received a report a delivery driver's vehicle had been hijacked on Southway by four masked men, one was said to have had a gun.

Large bang heard in Creggan #Derry just now. It may have been a controlled explosion — Leona O'Neill (@LeonaONeill1) January 21, 2019

I have spoken with the Chief Constable by telephone regarding the incidents in Londonderry. @PoliceServiceNI needs our full support to remove those responsible from our streets. Bombs in the 70s & 80s brought nothing but hardship - so will these. We will not be dragged back. — Arlene Foster (@DUPleader) January 21, 2019

The two occupants in the van were ordered to drive the vehicle to the Lonemoor Road and leave it.

Police had been clearing the area due to an earlier alert on Monday morning at around 11.30am.

PSNI Superintendent Gordon McCalmont said police were making to work the area safe.

"Sadly, within two hours today, we are dealing with a second security alert in the City, which means even more disruption for the local community," he said.

"I know this second security alert and the measures we are taking to keep people safe will cause significant inconvenience for the local community, but we have no choice.

"I want to ask the public for their patience, and thank them for their co-operation while we work to make the scene safe."

Earlier a white Transit van was reportedly hijacked by three masked men who threw an object in the back of it before abandoning it in Derry's Creggan estate.

A number of homes have been evacuated.

SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan said that he was told that the driver of the vehicle had been asked to take the van with a package that had been placed in it into the city centre.

Mr Durkan said the driver then abandoned the van in the Circular Road area.

"This incident is yet another major disruption for residents in the Creggan area, on top of the disruption and distruction that was caused in the city centre over the weekend," he said.

"The only people suffering here are local people. These attacks are as illogical as they are unacceptable."

Army Technical Officers have carried out two controlled explosions on the hijacked van which was abandoned on Creggan’s Circular Road in #Derry. A second hijacked van sits just down the street at Southway pic.twitter.com/hWFIZm7RHA — Leona O'Neill (@LeonaONeill1) January 21, 2019

Second alert in Southway in Creggan. A Royal Mail van has been hijacked and put across Southway. Police have the area sealed off #Derry pic.twitter.com/PpknjrjwDH — Leona O'Neill (@LeonaONeill1) January 21, 2019

A section of Circular Road in the Creggan estate #Derry has been cordoned off as police examine a van that has been hijacked and abandoned, beside hundreds of homes in the area. Around 30 homes have been evacuated. More to follow pic.twitter.com/GeCC2M4qGu — Leona O'Neill (@LeonaONeill1) January 21, 2019

The white van at the centre of today’s security alert in Creggan Estate. The van was hijacked earlier by masked men, an object thrown into it and it was abandoned near these homes on Circular Road. The alert comes just two days after a car bomb exploded in #Derry city centre pic.twitter.com/KtS75w0jbA — Leona O'Neill (@LeonaONeill1) January 21, 2019

The latest incidents follows an explosion outside Londonderry Courthouse in Bishop Street on Saturday.

A delivery driver was hijacked and a bomb was planted in the car. Nobody was injured in the explosion.

Police have blamed the attack on the New IRA.

Five people have been arrested in connection with the incident.

Belfast Telegraph Digital</s>Latest: Two men in their 20s have been arrested in connection with a car bomb attack in Derry last night, the police have confirmed.

The attack came shortly after 8pm last night when a vehicle exploded on Bishop Street.

Police and army bomb experts remain at the scene.

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said the New IRA was their main line of inquiry.

"Our main line of inquiry is against the New IRA," he said.

"The New IRA, like most dissident republican groups in Northern Ireland, is small, largely unrepresentative, and determined to drag people back to somewhere they don't want to be."

Mr Hamilton detailed how a pizza delivery driver was hijacked on Saturday evening, and his car packed with explosives before being left outside the court house on Bishop Street in Derry.

“We believe that some time after 6pm last night (Saturday), in the Quarry Street area of Derry, a pizza delivery driver was hijacked,” he said.

“He had his Ford Fusion car taken off him by at least two armed men.

“Between then and 7.23pm, a bomb was put in that car, driven at least half a mile to outside the court house on Bishop Street and around three minutes later a phone call went in to the Samaritans in West Midlands in England, which was then passed to West Midlands Police who then contacted us. Police near the scene on Bishop Street (Steven McAuley/PA)

“In the intervening minutes we had already found the car and started to evacuate the area. At around 8.09pm, the bomb detonated.

“Fortunately it didn’t kill anybody and fortunately it didn’t cause widespread damage, but clearly it was a very significant attempt to kill people in the local community.”

He added they got everyone evacuated “just in time”.

“The bomb detonated just as we were leaving the area and it is only by good grace that local people were not killed,” he said.

Those evacuated from nearby buildings included hundreds of hotel guests, 150 people from the Masonic Hall and a large number of children from a church youth club.

Earlier fears of a secondary device have been ruled out.

No-one was injured in the attack. No-one was injured in the attack (PSNI)

Earlier, the PSNI said the attack was "unbelievably reckless" and said they believe that the car had been "hijacked" in the city a short time before the explosion.

Politicians have condemned the incident, with Tanaiste Simon Coveney saying that there is "no place and no justification possible for such acts of terror".

Derry's SDLP mayor John Boyle challenged those responsible on what the aim was, while DUP leader Arlene Foster said it was a "pointless act of terror" which "must be condemned in the strongest terms".

Northern Ireland Secretary of State Karen Bradley has said those behind the bomb attack will not prevail.

"This attempt to disrupt progress in Northern Ireland has rightly been met with utter condemnation from all parts of the community," she said.

"The small number of people responsible have absolutely nothing to offer Northern Ireland's future and will not prevail.

"Thank you to the PSNI and emergency services who are working so hard to keep people safe and secure."

The scene of a suspected car bomb on Bishop Street in Derry. (Steven McAuley/PA)

Police have described last night's suspected car bomb attack outside a court in Derry as "unbelievably reckless".

The PSNI are investigating after the incident occurred in the city centre at 8.10pm last night.

The vehicle was consumed by flames (Steven McAuley/PA)

Residents were evacuated and witnesses reported hearing a loud bang and seeing a large plume of smoke.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said today that a suspicious vehicle was spotted by police 15 minutes before the device exploded.

He said they believe that the car had been "hijacked" in the city a short time before the explosion.

Constable Hamilton said: "At around 7.55pm last night officers on patrol in Bishop Street spotted a suspicious vehicle and were making checks when, around five minutes later, information was received that a device had been left at the courthouse.

"We moved immediately to begin evacuating people from nearby buildings including hundreds of hotel guests, 150 people from the Masonic Hall and a large number of children from a church youth club.

"The device detonated at 8.10pm. At this stage it appears as though the vehicle used had been hijacked from a delivery driver in the Quarry Street a short time before the explosion.

"The people responsible for this attack have shown no regard for the community or local businesses. They care little about the damage to the area and the disruption they have caused.

"The area remains sealed off and church services at St Augustine's have been moved to St Peters and the cathedral services have been cancelled this morning as a result.

Constable Hamilton thanked the local community for its support and co-operation and asked anyone with information to contact police.

An investigation by the PSNI is underway after a suspected car bomb exploded in Derry last night.

The police, as well as firefighters and the ambulance service, sealed off the scene close to a courthouse on Bishop Street in the city.

Handout photo taken from the PSNI Twitter page @PSNIDCSDistrict of the scene of a suspected car bomb on Bishop Street in Derry.

Witnesses earlier said they heard a loud bang and saw a large plume of smoke, and local residents were evacuated.

There has been no reports of any casualties at this stage.

A photograph was tweeted from the PSNI Twitter account warned people to stay away from the area.

The tweet from the PSNI's Derry City and Strabane District account also warned members of the public that Bishop Street was closed, adding the words "suspected car bomb".

A further update was posted on the PSNI's Foyle Facebook page.

"As far as we know no one injured. There is another car we are not happy about. There are ongoing necessary evacuations."

Tánaiste Simon Coveney tweeted his disgust at the incident.

"I utterly condemn the car bomb terrorist attack in Derry this evening," he said.

Derry's SDLP mayor John Boyle challenged those responsible on what the aim was.

He said: "I would actually like to ask the people responsible for this what it actually was that they thought they were going to achieve.

"It achieves nothing, it didn't achieve anything in the past, it didn't achieve anything right now.

"I have a question for them, what was this all about, because quite frankly this is not something that the people of this city wanted to see, it's not something they support, and as Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, I have to say I feel it incumbent upon me to speak out on behalf of the vast, vast majority of people in Derry, Strabane and indeed across this island, this is not what we want.

"This is the past and it has to stay in the past. We don't want to see any more of it."

DUP leader Arlene Foster said it was a "pointless act of terror" which "must be condemned in the strongest terms".

"Only hurts the people of the City. Perpetrated by people with no regard for life," she said.

"Grateful to our emergency services for their swift actions which helped ensure there have been no fatalities or injuries."

PSNI officers sealed off the area following the explosion (Steven McAuley/PA)

"This incident has shocked the local community," she said. "In particular, there are many elderly residents who live in the area who have been alarmed.

"Thankfully no-one appears to have been injured.

"Derry is a city moving forward and no-one wants this type of incident. It is not representative of the city.

"I would encourage anyone with information about this incident to bring it to the police."</s>Latest: Two men in their 20s have been arrested in connection with a car bomb attack in Derry last night, the police have confirmed.

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said that their main line of inquiry was that the dissident republican group, the New IRA, were behind the car bomb attack.

"Our main line of inquiry is against the New IRA," he said.

"The New IRA, like most dissident republican groups in Northern Ireland, is small, largely unrepresentative, and determined to drag people back to somewhere they don't want to be."

Earlier, the PSNI said the attack was "unbelievably reckless" and said they believe that the car had been "hijacked" in the city a short time before the explosion.

The scene of a suspected car bomb on Bishop Street in Derry. (Steven McAuley/PA)

Politicians have condemned the incident, with Tanaiste Simon Coveney saying that there is "no place and no justification possible for such acts of terror".

Derry's SDLP mayor John Boyle challenged those responsible on what the aim was, while DUP leader Arlene Foster said it was a "pointless act of terror" which "must be condemned in the strongest terms".

Northern Ireland Secretary of State Karen Bradley has said those behind the bomb attack will not prevail.

"This attempt to disrupt progress in Northern Ireland has rightly been met with utter condemnation from all parts of the community," she said.

"The small number of people responsible have absolutely nothing to offer Northern Ireland's future and will not prevail.

"Thank you to the PSNI and emergency services who are working so hard to keep people safe and secure."

Police have described last night's suspected car bomb attack outside a court in Derry as "unbelievably reckless".

The PSNI are investigating after the incident occurred in the city centre at 8.10pm last night.

The vehicle was consumed by flames (Steven McAuley/PA)

Residents were evacuated and witnesses reported hearing a loud bang and seeing a large plume of smoke.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said today that a suspicious vehicle was spotted by police 15 minutes before the device exploded.

He said they believe that the car had been "hijacked" in the city a short time before the explosion.

Constable Hamilton said: "At around 7.55pm last night officers on patrol in Bishop Street spotted a suspicious vehicle and were making checks when, around five minutes later, information was received that a device had been left at the courthouse.

"We moved immediately to begin evacuating people from nearby buildings including hundreds of hotel guests, 150 people from the Masonic Hall and a large number of children from a church youth club.

"The device detonated at 8.10pm. At this stage it appears as though the vehicle used had been hijacked from a delivery driver in the Quarry Street a short time before the explosion.

"The people responsible for this attack have shown no regard for the community or local businesses. They care little about the damage to the area and the disruption they have caused.

"The area remains sealed off and church services at St Augustine's have been moved to St Peters and the cathedral services have been cancelled this morning as a result.

Constable Hamilton thanked the local community for its support and co-operation and asked anyone with information to contact police.

An investigation by the PSNI is underway after a suspected car bomb exploded in Derry last night.

The police, as well as firefighters and the ambulance service, sealed off the scene close to a courthouse on Bishop Street in the city.

Handout photo taken from the PSNI Twitter page @PSNIDCSDistrict of the scene of a suspected car bomb on Bishop Street in Derry.

Witnesses earlier said they heard a loud bang and saw a large plume of smoke, and local residents were evacuated.

There has been no reports of any casualties at this stage.

A photograph was tweeted from the PSNI Twitter account warned people to stay away from the area.

The tweet from the PSNI's Derry City and Strabane District account also warned members of the public that Bishop Street was closed, adding the words "suspected car bomb".

A further update was posted on the PSNI's Foyle Facebook page.

"As far as we know no one injured. There is another car we are not happy about. There are ongoing necessary evacuations."

TÃ¡naiste Simon Coveney tweeted his disgust at the incident.

"I utterly condemn the car bomb terrorist attack in Derry this evening," he said.

Derry's SDLP mayor John Boyle challenged those responsible on what the aim was.

He said: "I would actually like to ask the people responsible for this what it actually was that they thought they were going to achieve.

"It achieves nothing, it didn't achieve anything in the past, it didn't achieve anything right now.

"I have a question for them, what was this all about, because quite frankly this is not something that the people of this city wanted to see, it's not something they support, and as Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, I have to say I feel it incumbent upon me to speak out on behalf of the vast, vast majority of people in Derry, Strabane and indeed across this island, this is not what we want.

"This is the past and it has to stay in the past. We don't want to see any more of it."

DUP leader Arlene Foster said it was a "pointless act of terror" which "must be condemned in the strongest terms".

"Only hurts the people of the City. Perpetrated by people with no regard for life," she said.

"Grateful to our emergency services for their swift actions which helped ensure there have been no fatalities or injuries."

PSNI officers sealed off the area following the explosion (Steven McAuley/PA)

"This incident has shocked the local community," she said. "In particular, there are many elderly residents who live in the area who have been alarmed.

"Thankfully no-one appears to have been injured.

"Derry is a city moving forward and no-one wants this type of incident. It is not representative of the city.

"I would encourage anyone with information about this incident to bring it to the police."</s>Police in Derry have confirmed that two of the three vehicles used in security alerts across the city on Monday were hijacked at gunpoint.

The third vehicle was hijacked by masked men who did not appear to be armed.

Speaking on Tuesday, after three separate security alerts in the town saw hundreds of residents evacuated from their homes, Derry’s top police officer Gordon McCalmont condemned those involved.

“Two out of the three – there has been mention of guns being involved,” he said.

“Those drivers were going out to their work yesterday, going to do a day’s work and support their families, and I’m sure not for one minute did they think they would be confronted by armed masked men.

“It’s madness, that is the reality of it.”

Royal Mail said on Tuesday that following advice of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), their workers would not be attending certain areas of the city after one of its vans was hijacked.

The PSNI say its main line of inquiry is that Saturday’s bomb and Monday’s spate of alerts were conducted by the New IRA, an amalgamation of dissident republican factions in Derry, who are allegedly responsible for the riots in the Bogside area of the city during the summer.

Superintendent McCalmont added that he believed Monday night’s security alerts were planted to impede the investigation into Saturday evening’s car bomb attack in Bishop Street.

In the first incident, three men reportedly hijacked a white Transit van in the Circular Road area at around 11.30am before throwing an object in the back and abandoning the vehicle.

Army bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion on the van.

Just over two hours later, at 1.45pm, police received a report that four masked men – one allegedly armed with a gun – had hijacked a postal delivery van on Southway.

Police said the two occupants of the van were ordered to drive to Lonemoor Road and leave it there.

The third incident saw another abandoned vehicle in the city cause panic on Monday night.

Police attended Northland Road after an Asda delivery van was left parked across the road, stopping traffic in front of St Mary’s secondary school.

Elderly residents were evacuated from their homes as police attempted to secure the area.

Mr McCalmont added: “The support we have had has been absolutely fantastic, we’ve had residents thanking ATO and officers when being evacuated from their homes – we’re working hard as a community, political, church and otherwise.

“I’d like to repeat that Derry is very much open for business today.”

Four men arrested on suspicion of the Bishop Street car bombing have been released.

The men, aged 42, 34 and two aged 21, were arrested on Sunday and released unconditionally.

The PSNI has refuted criticism that the force rushed into the arrests in order to calm a worried public.

“Everything we have to do is lawful and necessary – that criticism is unwarranted,” Mr McCalmont added.

No new check points will be set up in the city as the PSNI does not want to add to the disruption already caused by “terrorists”.</s>Army Technical Officers have carried out a controlled explosion on the hijacked vehicle in the Circular Road area of Derry.

The van was hijacked by three masked men this morning before it was abandoned.

Police say a number of homes remain evacuated and the cordons are still in place as investigations continue.

However, the PSNI continue to deal with a second security alert, after a Royal Mail vehicle was hijacked by 4 masked men this afternoon.

One of them is reported to have been carrying a gun.

The two occupants of the van were ordered to drive it to the Lonemoor Road and leave it there.

Local Councillor Kevin Campbell has been condemning the incidents:</s>Derry and Belfast were on high alert yesterday after three separate van hijackings and a 'suspicious object' sparked major security alerts less than 48 hours after a car bomb exploded outside the city's courthouse.

Derry and Belfast were on high alert yesterday after three separate van hijackings and a 'suspicious object' sparked major security alerts less than 48 hours after a car bomb exploded outside the city's courthouse.

Three vans hijacked in spate of attacks after bomb

The PSNI said last night that a "suspicious object" had been discovered in North Belfast, leading to road closures on the Springfield Road and Lanark Way.

It came after there were three separate van hijackings in Derry.

In the first hijacking, which happened on Creggan's Circular Road at 11.30am, three masked men threw an object into the back of a white Transit van and told the driver to drive to the city centre. In the second incident at around 1.45pm, four masked men hijacked a Royal Mail van and ordered the driver to take it to the Lonemoor Road. It was abandoned there and up to 50 families were evacuated from their homes.
• Read more: Four arrested on suspicion of Derry car bombing released as police investigate numerous security alerts

Army Technical Officers carried out several controlled explosions on the abandoned vehicles.

Last night, police responded to a further report of an abandoned Asda van on the Northland Road.

Meanwhile, five men were arrested by detectives investigating the blast in Bishop Street on Saturday evening - four were last night released without charge.

On Saturday evening, masked men believed to have been aligned to the New IRA hijacked a pizza delivery van in Derry, packed it with explosives and abandoned it outside the court building in Bishop Street, where it exploded shortly after 8pm.

Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley told MPs that the bomb had "absolutely nothing to do with Brexit".

SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan said the attacks were "illogical".</s>Three masked men hijacked a van and threw an object in the back before abandoning it in Derry this morning, according to reports to police.

Police cordons have been set up in the area and there are reports homes have been evacuated.

It comes days after a car bomb exploded in the Northern Irish city, in a similar scenario where a car was abandoned in a built up area.

This afternoon the Northern Ireland Police Service (PSNI) tweeted: "Security alert currently in Derry/Londonderry in Circular Rd area after report van hijacked around 11.30am by 3 masked men who threw an object in the back before abandoning it.

"Cordons in place. Please be patient while we work to make the scene safe. Further updates to follow."

On Saturday evening a bomb left in an abandoned car outside Bishop Street Courthouse exploded.

Police attended the scene after receiving a warning through the Samaritans and cleared the scene before the explosion. Nobody was injured in the blast.

The PSNI has said that they believe dissident republican group the New IRA was behind the attack.

Reports have suggested that Prime Minister Theresa May is considering amending the Good Friday Agreement to get her Brexit deal through Westminster.

Her spokesman today said: "The PM has been clear on multiple occasions that we are committed to upholding the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts and to delivering a solution that avoids a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland."

Today is the 100th anniversary of the Soloheadbeg ambush, which is seen as the beginning of Ireland's war for independence.</s>Latest: The PSNI have carried out a controlled explosion on a hijacked van in Derry.

The controlled explosion, carried out by army technical officers, took place on the Circular Road area.

It was one of two vans hijacked in Derry today.

The PSNI is still dealing with a second security alert on the Lonemoor Road area of Creggan.

Earlier (14:59pm): The PSNI is dealing with a second security alert in Derry, after a delivery driver's vehicle was hijacked by four masked men at 1:45pm this afternoon.

PSNI officers at the scene of the hijacked van in Creggan. North West Newspix

One of them is reported to have had a gun.

The two occupants of the van were ordered to drive it to the Lonemoor Road and leave it there.

The PSNI says cordons are being put in place.

Earlier (12:52pm): A security alert is currently in place in the Circular Road area of Derry.

The PSNI says the alert was issued after reports that three masked men hijacked a van at around 11.30am today.

The police service says the men threw an object into the back of the vehicle before abandoning it.

Cordons are in place at the moment.</s>Three security alerts in Derry have ended after the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed the incidents, including one where they carried out a controlled explosion, to be hoaxes.

The security alerts were in the Circular Road, Southway areas of Creggan and Northland Road at St Mary’s College. Residents who had been evacuated have returned to their homes.

The PSNI had carried out a controlled explosion on a vehicle on Monday that was hijacked by masked men in Derry and examined two other abandoned vans. The incidents have resulted in fresh disruption in the city after a car bomb exploded outside its’ courthouse on Saturday. Nobody was injured in the attack on Bishop Street which the PSNI believes a dissident republican group called ‘the New IRA’ was responsible for.

There was a large bang and black smoke from the first van on Monday after an army bomb disposal robot entered.

Police said the van had been hijacked by three masked men who threw an object in the back before abandoning it on a residential street. “We can confirm that all three alerts are hoaxes, however, we cannot underestimate the impact these incidents have had on our community,” the PSNI said early on Tuesday.

Officers had evacuated homes and cordoned off both areas as they inspected the vehicles. A Royal Mail postal van was hijacked nearby later on Monday by four masked men, one of whom was reported to have a gun, police said. A third vehicle, an Asda delivery van, was left across Northland Road opposite St Mary’s College. There had also been an attempted hijacking of a local bus elsewhere, police said.

Meanwhile four of the five people arrested by police investigating the car bomb at the weekend have been released. A fifth man (50) remains in custody in connection with the explosion. The PSNI said four men - two aged 21, and others aged 34 and 42 - were released unconditionally on Monday night. The investigation is continuing.

Assistant chief constable of the PSNI Mark Hamilton said he has not seen anything that links Brexit to the bombing in Derry at the weekend or the hijackings on Monday. He also said there was no evidence to support speculation that the incidents are a response to the 100th anniversary of the War of Independence.

Mr Hamilton told RTÉ’s News at One on Monday there was no specific information to connect the car bomb and the hijacking incidents and that doing so would be purely speculation.

“Obviously we’re concerned that the events are connected and obviously alongside the events of Saturday night we have a significant investigation running into the crime on Saturday which has led to five arrests, it may well be that all these events are connected,” he said.

“I’ve seen nothing that links Brexit to any of these issues, the threat in Northern Ireland has remained severe since 2009, unfortunately there’s always some expectation that attacks could happen.

“It’s very important for everyone to understand that we’re not expecting trouble [from Brexit], we’re not expecting violence, we’re not expecting difficulties.

“I’m very concerned for the people of Derry. . .In the longer term we don’t want a sense of fear or uneasiness creeping into the community either here in Derry or across Northern Ireland.”–Additional reporting Reuters
In two incidents in Derry, a truck is hijacked and abandoned in the city center, and a Royal Mail van is hijacked at gunpoint and later abandoned. Authorities blame the New IRA.