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Suspect devices found in Londonderry following concerns tensions were 'stoked' by presence of MTV film crew

Violence flared up in Londonderry on Thursday evening, with 29-year-old journalist Lyra McKee shot dead - PA
Violence flared up in Londonderry on Thursday evening, with 29-year-old journalist Lyra McKee shot dead - PA

Two suspect devices have been found in Londonderry and a 39-year-old man has been arrested, amid concerns that recent violence in the area may have been aggravated by the presence of an MTV film crew.

Police locked down parts of the city and evacuated houses as they responded to four security alerts, just days after journalist Lyra McKee was shot dead.

It has since emerged that television presenter Reggie Yates was in the area filming a documentary for MTV around Brexit reigniting tensions in Northern Ireland and the impact that it is having on the country’s youth.

“I honestly believe those involved bigged this up knowing cameras were there with horrifying consequences,” wrote local resident John McGowan on Twitter.

Another community worker who spoke to The Sunday Times said: “Tensions had been rising in the area and there is a strong belief that they were being stoked by dissidents for the benefit of the film crew.”

The Northern Ireland Police Service confirmed to The Telegraph that they asked anyone with any footage which could assist with the murder investigation to pass the videos on to them, and it is understood that MTV is co-operating.

Responding to the claims that the violence may have been exacerbated by the presence of the film crew,  Detective Superintendant Jason Murphy said he did not believe that media on the ground impacted on the situation.

A statement released by MTV said: “There is no evidence of any sort to show that the presence of media on the ground contributed or impacted the situation on the Creggan estate the night that Lyra McKee was tragically shot and killed.

"The crowds had already assembled following a police search in the area and upon hearing about the search, a production company filming a documentary for MTV made their way to the area, as did multiple other news crews who were also present on the scene. MTV is not a line of enquiry in police investigations.”

This morning in Creggan, a device was left outside the home of republican Councillor Gary Donnelly which police later exploded. Another controlled explosion was carried out on another device left outside a home in Hardy Court, Ballymagroarty.

The area around Strand Road Police Station was cordoned off in order to examine a suspect car and a fourth alert was called at a home in Moss Park.

A 39-year-old man was taken into custody in Belfast after the string of incidents, but police say that they are treating the matter as criminal rather than terrorist related.

They also confirmed that they are not investigating any link between these alerts and the murder of Lyra McKee. Two teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of her murder, whose funeral will take place in Belfast on Wednesday.

Sinn Fein deputy leader Michelle O'Neill addressed an Easter commemoration ceremony in Londonderry and said those involved in the murder had appointed themselves to carry out actions that were “pointless, anti-peace and anti-community.”