The PSNI said today that "a strong line of inquiry is that this attack is the work of the New IRA."RollingNews.ie

The PSNI are investigating a “strong line of inquiry” that the New IRA is responsible for the viable explosive device that was found near a female police officer’s car at her home in Dungiven, Co Derry in Northern Ireland.

PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne "strongly condemned" the attack on the female police officer, who has a young child, on Tuesday:

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Speaking later in the day on Tuesday to reporters, ACC McEwan said: “Yesterday morning [April 19], our colleague discovered a suspicious object beside her car in close proximity to her house on Ballyquin Road, Dungiven.

“We assessed this was a viable device with explosives attached to a container with flammable liquid. This was designed to cause a fireball which would have engulfed the victim’s car and anyone in it, or anyone close by, anyone calling to the house, or anyone in the proximity.

“What is really distressing here is the terrorist placed the bomb at the rear of the car directly at the point where the victim’s three-year-old daughter sits. This demonstrates the complete and utter disregard for the life of a mother and her toddler; this simply beggars belief.

“Whilst the investigation is at an early stage, and detectives are keeping an open mind, a strong line of inquiry is that this attack is the work of the New IRA.

“On several occasions before, we have seen this group’s utter disregard for those working for local people in our community," ACC McEwan said citing the 2019 bomb attack outside the Derry courthouse as well as the 2019 murder of journalist Lyra McKee in Creggan.

“It is clear they are still intent in recklessly targeting honest, hard-working members of our community and they have no concern at all for those they kill or harm in the process."

ACC McEwan implored anyone with any information of the attack to come forward to the PSNI.

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Politicians in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland condemned the incident.

Arlene Foster, the First Minister of Northern Ireland and the head of the DUP, said in a video: "There was never any justification for violence of this type, or attempted murder of this type, and there never will be."

Michelle O’Neill, the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland and the Vice President of Sinn Féin, slammed the incident as "reprehensible" and "regressive."

Naomi Long MLA, the Justice Minister for Northern Ireland, said in a statement: "The people behind this have nothing to offer anyone living here. Their actions go against the democratic principles that the vast majority of people in this society support."

Brandon Lewis, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, said the attempted murder is "absolutely abhorrent."

Taoiseach Micheál Martin, calling the attack "cowardly," urged politicians across the island of Ireland to come together "to avoid a return to the dark days of fear and terror."

Simon Coveney, Ireland's Minister for Foreign Affairs, condemned the attack and urged anyone with information to go to the PSNI: