Three arrested over Eglinton car bomb

Gardai have now confirmed that the arrests were made at approximately 4am on Thursday morning near Ballybofey - just over an hour after suspicious activity was observed and the alarm was raised 40 miles away in Eglinton.

A garda spokesman said: “A car was stopped by the Northern Regional Support Unit, the vehicle was searched and the men arrested.

“The car is now subject to a technical examination and searches are ongoing in the vicinity of where the car was stopped.”

The spokesman added that the prisoners- who are in their late 20s to late 30s- are all currently detained under Section 30 of Offences Against the State Act, 1939.
Two are being held at Letterkenny Garda Station and a third at Milford Garda Stations.

A married couple targeted in the thwarted car bombing in Eglinton were both police officers, it was confirmed earlier today.

The man and woman were at home when suspicious activity was observed outside their Glenrandel home at around 2.45am this morning (Thursday) and the bomb was found underneath the vehicle.

At a press conference at Strand Road PSNI Station this morning, Derry City & Strabane District Commander Superintendant Mark McEwan said that the male officer who lived at the address and whose car was targeted has served in Derry.