Londonderry: Controlled explosion carried out on 'suspicious' vehicle

Army technical officers have carried out a controlled explosion on a suspicious vehicle at the centre of a security alert in Londonderry.

A number of people were moved out of their homes while police examined the vehicle in Galliagh Park.

It follows an earlier hijacking of a white Volkswagen van in nearby Bracken Park.

Police say the security alert has now ended and that "nothing untoward was found".

Earlier, police said the area had been cordoned off and some residents moved to Templemore Sports Complex.

The Mellon family were among those evacuated to the sports complex

Fifteen-year-old Kaelah told the BBC she was awoken by her younger sister Farrah at around 04:30.

"She came into my room saying 'we have to go'. We got in the car with mummy and daddy and I heard them talking about bomb scares," she said.

"It was a big disruption, I was just thinking about school, I have my GCSEs coming up and I didn't want to miss a day of school".

SDLP councillor Brian Tierney told BBC Radio Foyle that about 10 homes have been evacuated because of the alert.

"I have been speaking this morning to one resident, a young mother with three children, who have been removed from their home at 05:00.

"It is obviously quite distressing for her and obviously the young children as well," he said.

Mr Tierney said his thoughts were with those removed from their homes and with "the driver of the van who was hijacked in the area last night".

He added: "The people behind this attack have nothing to offer their community, I would urge them to cease this kind of activity at once".