Bomb blast rocks Londonderry shopping centre

A car bomb has exploded outside a shopping centre in the Northern Irish city of Londonderry, according to bbc.co.uk.

The blast, which occurred just after midnight local time (midday NZST), caused substantial damage to nearby shops but there have been no reports of any injuries, police say.

Dozens of homes and businesses near the DaVinci shopping centre were evacuated around an hour before the bomb exploded, after a warning was received.

- NZ HERALD STAFF