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A transgender woman whose house in Derry’s Waterside was pipebombed last night says she cannot return to her home.

Rachael Keys, 27, says she is staying with friends until being emergency rehoused tomorrow.

Her home, in the Lincoln Court area of the city, was pipebombed shortly after 10pm on Saturday night in what the police described as a “sectarian hate crime”.

A device left on the windowsill of the property exploded, smashing a window and showering her with glass. Five properties were evacuated and residents were forced to sleep in a local community centre.

“I was just watching TV in my living room,” said the 27-year-old. “Suddenly the window came through, there was glass everywhere and there was a big bang and a flash. I was covered in glass.

“To be honest I was completely dazed, I didn’t know what was happening. It scared the life out of me. I just ran out of the house screaming to my neighbours. I didn’t even have time to lift my poor cat, Jessie, who was sleeping in the bedroom. I was terrified, shaking, upset.

“The police came and cordoned the place off and evacuated us all to the community centre. I was totally dazed.

“One of my neighbours is epileptic and I was really worried about her not being able to get her medication. Another neighbour has a child who is autistic, another is a pensioner. It was awful for them. Just awful.

“We all had to sleep in the community centre overnight. I was distraught. Someone gave me a tablet to help calm me down and help me sleep. I didn’t sleep though.”

Rachael said she had just moved to the area at the end of last year and was gradually getting her home decorated how she wanted it.

“I just moved into my home in December,” she added. “It is a quiet area. I liked living here. I was getting my place done up bit by bit. It was my home. You think you’ll be safe in your home, that it is a sanctuary, but this has just shown me that it isn’t.

“The police told me I can’t go back home. They said I am to be moved to emergency housing and will be rehoused tomorrow.

“It makes me really sad that people won’t allow others to get on with their lives, to live in peace. It makes me sad and angry. It’s not fair, it’s not right. I don’t deserve this, I’ve done nothing wrong.”

Police are investigating a motive but Rachael said she feels the attack may be linked to her being Transgender.

“I am a member of the LGBT community,” she added. “The police feel that I may have been attacked because of that reason.

“I just don’t think this has all sunk in with me yet. I am completely dazed, numb. This is another stressful situation to face.

“I am not long out of hospital. I have a tumour on my bowel and am having tests and treatment at the moment. I do not need this extra stress in my life. I have done nothing wrong.”

SDLP Councillor for the area, Gerard Diver, who visited the victim this morning, condemned the attack.

He said: “Sadly we have a history of people being attacked in their homes over the years in this city and district and it’s unbelievable that this type of sinister event can still happen in 2015.

“My complete sympathy is with the victim of this attack who thankfully has escaped physical harm but who I’m sure has been traumatised by the events.

“I would appeal for anyone with information to pass it on to the PSNI as a matter of urgency so that those responsible can be brought to justice.”

A PSNI detective said: “We are lucky that no one was injured by this device, or by the window smashing.

“This is being treated as a sectarian hate crime and I would appeal to anyone with any information about this incident to contact detectives at Strand Road police station on the non-emergency number 101.”