Northern Ireland unnerved by city centre bombs - no injuries

Jan 20, 2012, 10:43 GMT

London - Two explosions in the centre of the Northern Ireland city of Londonderry have fuelled fears of a new wave of attacks by dissident Republican groups in the British province, police said Friday.

No-one was injured in the late Thursday blasts close to a shopping centre and a tourist office in the city centre, which caused huge traffic disruption and prompted the evacuation of hundreds of residents.

The authorities said that dissident groups linked to the former Irish Republican Army (IRA) were believed to be behind the attacks. These factions oppose the peace process in Northern Ireland.

'When you carry bombs into an urbanized environment, they will know the risk,' said local police chief Stephen Martin.

Londonderry, or Derry as it is known by its Catholic residents, is Northern Ireland's second-biggest city. It has been chosen to be Britain's Capital of Culture next year.

Peter Robinson, the regional government leader of Northern Ireland, condemned the attacks as 'reprehensible.'

'These were the actions of people who have nothing to offer and seem intent on bringing us back to the bad old days. They will not succeed,' he said.