The suspicious object that sparked a security alert during the President's Cup football match between Derry City and Shamrock Rovers on Friday night was an "elaborate hoax", police have said.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland is now appealing to the public for help in finding those responsible for the incident. The alert happened as Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris and the Republic's President Michael D Higgins were at Derry City's Brandywell Stadium off Lone Moor Road.
It's understood that Northern Ireland's Secretary of State left the match because of the security alert, whilst Mr Higgins remained at the ground to present the cup to Derry City, who won the game 2-0. The alert was first raised around 8:30pm when police received a tip-off that a suspicious object had been found in the Celtic Court area.
That led to officer cordoning off the scene, disrupting the flow of traffic and movements of residents and football fans. Colum Eastwood, SDLP Leader and Foyle MP, described the "significant disruption" in the Brandywell area, saying: "The security alert near the Brandywell this evening is causing significant disruption for local residents and those travelling from tonight’s match. Elderly residents and children have had their night turned upside down as police attempt to make the area safe.
"It is particularly frustrating that local people and Derry City fans are experiencing this disruption as President Higgins visits for this evening’s President’s Cup match."
READ MORE: Derry security alert live over after PSNI attend scene outside Brandywell Stadium - RECAP
However, after ammunition technical officers called to the scene inspected the suspicious object, they declared it to be safe and labelled it an elaborate hoax. In a statement issued by the PSNI in Derry at 2:22 on Saturday morning, officers said: "A security alert in Derry/Londonderry has ended."
Superintendent William Calderwood said: "Police received a report that a suspicious object had been found in the Celtic Court area at around 8:30pm on Friday, February 10th. Ammunition Technical Officers were tasked and declared the object an elaborate hoax.
"I want to thank the local community, in particular those who were directly affected, for their cooperation and assistance as we worked to keep people safe.
"Detectives from the PSNI's Serious Crime Branch have commenced an investigation and are appealing to anyone with information relating to this incident or anyone noticing any suspicious activity in the area to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 155 of 10/02/23."
Reports can be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form here or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online here.
Mr Heaton-Harris has so far not commented publicly on social media on anything relating to the incident.
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