By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal
LONDON (AA) – The bomb attack targeting a police officer’s home in Northern Ireland is “despicable”, the U.K.’s Secretary of State for Northern Ireland said Wednesday.
"The people who planted this device intended to kill or cause really serious injury,” James Brokenshire said of a bomb planted in a Londonderry home that exploded Wednesday as it was being defused.
The attack came days before the Northern Ireland Assembly election slated for March 2.
Police said absence of serious injury or death was fortunate, and a security alert was issued in the Ardanlee area where the incident took place.
“Their murderous intent is in stark contrast to the focus of this police officer who went out this morning to serve the community,” Brokenshire said.
The officer's identity was not revealed.
Northern Ireland police federation chairman Mark Lindsay said the device used was "capable of killing or maiming the Officer who was targeted, or anyone else who might have come into contact with it.”
Northern Ireland’s power sharing government collapsed when deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness stepped down in January over a financial mismanagement scandal involving his opposite number, First Minister Arlene Foster.
When Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Fein failed to form a new government, James Brokenshire announced the March 2 election in search of new assembly members.
Power-sharing rules in the divided territory mean if the Deputy First Minister stands down, the First Minister is also forced out of their position.