UK: Two arrested after Jan. 19 Londonderry (Northern Ireland) bombing /update 1

Event

Police arrested two people in connection to a Saturday, January 19, car bombing in Londonderry, also known as Derry (Northern Ireland). No further information was released concerning the suspects or a possible motive. A security cordon remains in place as of Sunday afternoon (local time), January 20, surrounding the area of the blast, which occurred at the city courthouse on Bishop Street at approximately 20:10. No one was wounded in the attack.

Context

Londonderry was a focal point of the Northern Irish Troubles, a violent conflict between Irish nationalists and Unionists. An estimated 3500 people were killed and nearly 50,000 others wounded in the conflict from the 1960s until 1998, when the Good Friday Agreement was signed. Sporadic low-level violence continues in the region.

Advice

Individuals in Londonderry, and Northern Ireland more broadly, are advised to monitor the situation, adhere to instructions (e.g. evacuation orders, road closures) issued by local authorities, anticipate localized disruptions and a heightened security presence, and remain vigilant for suspicious objects or behavior.