IED event in County Londonderry, Londonderry area, United Kingdom on Mon 26th February 2024

Three men have been arrested after a 'viable explosive device' was discovered in Co Londonderry, Northern Ireland. 

Police have arrested three men, aged 22, 35 and 55, following a number of searches in Omagh in Tyrone and Dungiven in Londonderry this morning. 

The Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI) operation is in its third day at the Curragh Road near Dungiven - a small town in county Londonderry - after a 'pipe bomb' device was found on Saturday before it was made safe and removed on Sunday.

A police spokesperson said: 'Following these searches, three men, aged 55, 22 and 35, were arrested in connection with terrorism-related offences.

'They all remain in police custody at this time, assisting with inquiries.

'A policing operation remains in place this morning in the Foreglen Road area of Dungiven, as inquiries continue in relation to the ongoing security alert, which began on Saturday February 24.

'Yesterday evening, Sunday February 25, officers recovered a viable improvised explosive device in the Curragh Road area of Dungiven, which was made safe, and removed for further forensic examination.'

An appeal for information has been made by police to contact officers on 101, quoting reference number 1210 of 24/02/23.

On Sunday, a spokesman for the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said: 'Leaving a viable device in the heart of a community is a reckless and selfish act by those who don't care about the risk they cause to our communities.

'They also don't care that families were evacuated from their homes and disruption was caused to people trying to go about their lives this weekend.'