Londonderry: Attack on woman's home 'was because I'm Catholic'

A woman whose home was targeted in a pipe bomb attack in Londonderry has said she believes she was targeted because she is a Catholic.

The woman, who is in her 20s, was inside the house at Heron Way in the Waterside when the device partially exploded at the back door.

She was not hurt but damage was caused to the door in the incident at about 23:30 BST on Wednesday.

"I have lost my house, I am devastated," she told BBC Radio Foyle.

"I do believe it is because I am a Catholic," she added, saying that those responsible were "obviously evil".

The woman said her home had previously been targeted, when windows were smashed and graffiti was daubed on the house.

She added: "When I was with the children's father nothing was ever done."

The police have said that a sectarian hate crime motivation is one line of inquiry.

Police investigating the pipe bomb attack examined the scene on Thursday

The woman said she was alone in the house on Wednesday night and was going to bed when there "was a massive bang".

"I froze. I didn't know what to do. [The pipe bomb] was just sitting there, half exploded. I thought it was a firework, I didn't expect to see a copper pipe half exploded," she said.

The woman said she would not be returning to the house.

She added: "I am probably going to be homeless over Christmas. If they really want me out then all they had to do was say."

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) assembly member Gary Middleton said there was no justification for the attack.

"This is deeply reckless act which could've ended in serious injury or even death," he said.

The Foyle politician said the woman had been left badly shaken and he urged anyone with any information about the incident to contact the police.