Security alert at Londonderry hotel

Residents at a Londonderry hotel had to be evacuated this morning due to a security alert following reports of three suspect devices in the Diamond area of the city.

Two suspect devices were discovered close to the Tower Hotel and a third was found at nearby Great James Street.

The security alert has been linked with a scheduled visit by Sir Hugh Orde, who had been due to speak at a debate on policing at the hotel tonight, however, organisers of the event had already called it off last night.

Residents at the hotel were moved as part of the city centre was sealed off to allow Army explosives experts to examine the area and the alert was later declared to be a hoax.

(SB/SP)