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Viable explosive device found in package at Londonderry hotel

Police in Northern Ireland say a package delivered to a hotel at Ebrington Square, Londonderry, held a viable explosive device. Army bomb experts made it safe, and politicians condemned the attack.

3 outlets · 1L · 2C · 0R First reported Account updated

Updated (version 2). New coverage since the last version from The Irish Times.

Image: BBC News
Image: The Irish Times
Image: Evening Standard

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The story, neutrally told

Centre · 2Police in Northern Ireland said a suspicious package delivered to a hotel in Londonderry contained a viable explosive device. Centre · 2The package was discovered at about 15:20 on Tuesday at the hotel in Ebrington Square, in the Waterside area of the city. Centre · 2Army bomb experts attended and carried out a controlled explosion, and the remnants were taken away for forensic examination.

Centre · 2A number of people were evacuated from the hotel, along with staff and occupants of neighbouring premises. Centre · 2A Halloween funfair was taking place a short distance away, and the BBC reported that it stayed open during the alert. Centre · 2Det Supt Kearney of the Police Service of Northern Ireland condemned what police called a "reckless and targeted attack" that caused "significant disruption and distress" to the local community.

Centre · 1Justice Minister Naomi Long called it an "utterly shameful and dangerous act" and said it was abhorrent that a viable device was placed near families and young people celebrating Halloween. Mixed · 2Long also paid tribute to the officers who responded, saying their "professionalism and courage" stood in "stark contrast to those intent on bringing fear and disruption to our streets". Centre · 1DUP Foyle Assembly member Julie Middleton called the incident "deeply disturbing" and appealed to anyone with information to contact the PSNI.

Centre · 2The coverage names no suspects and no group, and gives no claim of responsibility.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left1 outlet

Framing
The Irish Times runs PA copy under a 'Derry' headline, reporting the police confirmation of a viable device with the same facts and quotes as the centre outlets.
Emphasis
Police condemnation, the evacuation, the controlled explosion, and condemnation from Justice Minister Naomi Long and DUP MLA Julie Middleton.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not mention that the funfair stayed open, and names no suspects or group.
Charged language
“reckless and targeted attack”“utterly shameful and dangerous act”
For example
“A suspicious package delivered to a hotel in Derry contained a viable explosive device, the PSNI has confirmed.” — The Irish Times
“It was an utterly shameful and dangerous act, and the people behind it have shown absolutely no regard to the community or businesses affected.” — The Irish Times

Centre2 outlets

Framing
Both outlets report the find as a security alert with a viable device, stressing police condemnation and the risk to a nearby Halloween event.
Emphasis
BBC gives the police account and the funfair staying open; the Evening Standard adds political reaction from Naomi Long and Julie Middleton.
Leaves out or plays down
Neither names suspects or says who the target was or why the attack was called targeted.
Charged language
“reckless and targeted attack”
For example
“It remained open during the security alert.” — BBC News
“I now strongly appeal to anyone with any information, no matter how small or insignificant you may feel it to be, to please pass this information on to the PSNI.” — Evening Standard

Right0 outlets

No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

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