A security alert in Derry has been declared a hoax.
The Foyleside Shopping Centre was excavated after a bomb scare.
The PSNI says this type of incident only causes further harm to livelihoods.
What is the point in creating panic and disruption? Our city centre and local traders have suffered enough. We don’t need idiots calling in hoax bombscares.
Wise up. https://t.co/6GhuCuIw1J— Colum Eastwood 🇺🇦 (@columeastwood) February 1, 2022
It is at a time when local businesses and services are trying desperately to get back on track.
Local Councillor Brian Tierney agrees:
"This isnt the kind of thing we want to see in Derry."
"Businesses have struggled to get through the Covid pandemic."
"Now that they've been able to open again we're finding out that they've had to close again due to security alerts."