Couple in house attacked by bomb say they could have died

BBC
·2-min read
A terraced house in limewood street in Derry. On the right is a window of the home, the glass of which has been smashed when a pipe bomb was thrown at it. To the left of the window is the glass fronted front door of the property
Police said a viable device was thrown at the property in Limewood Street on Monday evening [Pacemaker]

A Londonderry couple have said it was lucky no one was killed in a pipe bomb attack on their family home.

Josephine and Liam Cooley were sitting in the living room of their home in Limewood Street at about 19:30 GMT on Monday when there was a bang on the window.

Police said the attack could be a case of mistaken identity.

The object, which was found to be a viable suspected pipe bomb, was removed by Army technical officers.

“It could have killed or harmed anybody. Damage can be fixed but if you take somebody’s life it is different,” Mr Cooley told BBC News NI.

“There were pieces of shrapnel. It was very frightening, a very reckless thing to have done; they could have killed anybody."

Mrs Cooley said she heard a bang on the window and then the couple saw sparks.

“My husband thought it was gas or something, and we jumped," she said.

"My son said, ‘Oh God, I think there is shooting’.

“The blinds broke; we jumped. I ran out the back, and they threw something through the window; sparks were going everywhere. It was just like a nightmare."

The couple spent the night out of their home, which has been extensively damaged.

Neighbours have been rallying round, Mrs Cooley said.

Limewood Street in Derry's bogside, seen from the top of the street looking down at cars parked on either side of the road, and rows of terraced houses on both sides
[Pacemaker]

Police said enquiries into the incident were continuing.

“Detectives are investigating the possibility this may have been a case of mistaken identity,” Det Sgt Mark Gingell said.

“It is believed that this device was put through the window of the house and has exploded.

"This has caused damage to the property but could have led to the occupants being badly injured or even killed."

'Shocking and distressing'

Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said it was "a shocking and distressing attack".

"There is no excuse for it. The people responsible have caused an immense amount of disruption for this family and the local community," the Social Democratic and Labour Party politician said.

Sinn Féin councillor Sandra Duffy said the attack was "totally wrong".

“There is no place or excuse for this type of activity," she added.

Police have appealed for anyone with information to contact them.

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