Dramatic CCTV footage shows moment car bomb exploded in Londonderry
Police have released dramatic footage showing the moment a car bomb exploded outside Londonderry Courthouse.
The footage shows a group of young people walking past the vehicle just minutes before it exploded.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland released four clips via Twitter on Sunday following the blast on Saturday evening.
Assistant chief constable Mark Hamilton described the bomb as a "crude device" and the attack as "unbelievably reckless".
Police release CCTV footage of car stopping outside courthouse on Bishops Street in Derry/Londonderry last night. pic.twitter.com/CLfXEyip4c
— PSNI DC&S District (@PSNIDCSDistrict) January 20, 2019
Dissident republican group the New IRA is suspected to be behind the attack.
The first clip shows the Ford Fusion car, which was hijacked from a pizza delivery driver earlier that evening, being driven to the courthouse in Bishop Street.
The second clip shows a figure running away from the vehicle after parking it.
Police release CCTV footage of a group of young people walking past car outside courthouse on Bishops Street in Derry/Londonderry last night. pic.twitter.com/DL0hnfX8Xj
— PSNI DC&S District (@PSNIDCSDistrict) January 20, 2019
The third shows a large group of young people walking past the vehicle, as well as another car driving past.
The final clip shows the dramatic moment the car exploded in a flash of light and debris being flung from the burning wreckage.
Police release CCTV footage of explosion outside courthouse on Bishops Street in Derry/Londonderry last night. pic.twitter.com/tqzqBdCZnv
— PSNI DC&S District (@PSNIDCSDistrict) January 20, 2019
Mr Hamilton described the bomb attack as a "very significant attempt to kill people".
"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 said.
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 added.