British army bomb disposal experts yesterday defused a bomb containing a substantial amount of home-made explosives, following a two-day alert close to the Foyle Bridge in Derry.
The device, believed to have been planted by the "Real IRA", was discovered on Wednesday following a coded telephone call to a local journalist.
Following the discovery of the bomb, the Foyle Bridge, one of Derry's main roads, was closed causing widespread traffic disruption.
The bomb, which was fully primed, was found beside the Derry to Belfast railway line about 100 yards from the bridge. RUC Chief Supt Stuart Tosh said the device was so unstable that it could have exploded at any time.
"All it has achieved is disruption for the people of this city and for visitors and it has tarnished the city's reputation at a time when it is trying to project itself from a tourism point of view."
