This is the police vehicle badly damaged in a bomb attack in Derry last night.

A device was fired at a police vehicle as it drove along Circular Drive in the Creggan area of the city shortly before 9pm.

The device damaged the rear door of the vehicle before landing in a nearby garden and exploding.

The explosion damaged a hedge in the garden.

A wire could be seen lying in the garden this morning, suggesting that the device may have been fired by remote control.

Police say the attack was designed to kill the officers in the vehicle.

Dissident republicans have been blamed for the attack.

SDLP MP Mark Durkan condemned those behind the bomb attack and two punishment-style shootings in Derry over the weekend.

“Those responsible for throwing this device at a police patrol have shown complete and utter contempt for the people of Creggan," said Mr Durkan.

“They are out to destroy, and don't care if they injure or kill anyone in the process.

“This callous and dangerous attack and the two punishment-style shootings in the city over the weekend fly in the face of the efforts made by so many people to improve life here.

“We should contrast those who were planning these attacks with the civic carnival spirit and what thousands of people from this city and beyond were doing for Halloween.

“We were all putting out a positive story, a positive message about our community and the talents and ambitions that we want to celebrate in this city. But no, there is a small minority of people who say they want Derry to be a theatre for destruction and death."

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