Derry school: Northern Irish police declare suspicious package 'elaborate hoax'

Northern Irish police have declared an incident involving a suspicious package at a school in Derry as an ‘elaborate hoax’.

St Columb’s College on Buncrana Road was evacuated and emergency services were called to the scene at around 9am on Monday after a suspected suspicious device was found near the school gates.

A public safety operation was launched and homes nearby in the Slievemore area were cleared as a precautionary measure by police officers.

Residents were given refuge at Templemore Sports Complex as the police carried on their investigation.

Footage taken by reporters at the scene showed officers patrolling the area with sniffer dogs and several police vans in place.

But on Monday afternoon, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said the device was a fake.

In a statement, the force said: “A security alert in Derry/Londonderry has ended. A suspicious device discovered in the Buncrana Road area earlier was examined by ATO & declared an elaborate hoax. Residents who left their homes have been allowed to return. Police thank the local community for their patience.”

Principal Finbarr Madden told reporters the package was discovered at a school entrance gate around 9am when staff and pupils were arriving for their first day back after a mid-term break. He described it on Monday morning as a "very frightening experience for everybody".

The Belfast Telegraph reported that parents were told by the school to come and pick up their children from designated areas.

In a text message sent to parents, the school reportedly said early on Monday morning: "Due to the presence of a potential suspect device on Collon Lane we have been advised by the PSNI to evacuate the school with immediate effect.

"If you can arrange to pick your son up, please do so, the main school car park will be unavailable but the pitches will be available for parking. We are also arranging for buses to bring pupils to the Foyle Street Depot."

St Columb’s is the largest and oldest boys’ grammar school in Derry. Pupils aged 11 to 18 attend the school.

Sinn Féin MLA for Derry Karen Mullan had earlier described the incident as "disgraceful".

In a statement, she said: "There is major disruption at the Collon Lane area this morning following a security alert. St Columb’s College has been evacuated and pupils and staff have been sent home.

"This is disgraceful and the last thing that pupils, teachers and parents need this morning, particularly as children return to the first day back after the break. I would urge people to avoid the area until the alert ends."

Education Minister Peter Weir said: “I’m disturbed to hear about a security situation at St Columb’s College and school evacuation. “This is the first day back after half-term and further disruption to children’s education is concerning." 

“This is the first day back after half-term and further disruption to children’s education is concerning."

Later on, a number of roads and a medical centre were closed during a security alert in the Springfield Road in west Belfast.

A spokesman for the Police Service of Northern Ireland said: “A number of roads and a local medical centre are closed, as officers conduct enquiries and work to make the scene safe.”

Officers have not said whether or not they believe the second security incident could involve a hoax.