The Legavallon Road has been closed since Wednesday afternoon after police received an anonymous telephone claim that a bomb had been left in the area.
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A police spokesman said it was important that local people remained vigilant and rang 999 if they discover any suspicious objects.
The area has been the centre of a security operation this week, with police saying they were searching for an explosive device.
Sinn Fein MLA Cathal O’Hoisin said: “The security operation has now been widened out”.
Dissident republican group Óglaigh na h’Éireann has said it left a bomb outside Drumsurn village five weeks ago.
In the statement Oglaigh also claimed responsibility for several recent incidents in the North-West including a mortar attack and a gun attack in Currynierin and a mortar attack in Strabane.
The security alert, which is now in its third day, is continuing and there will be a police presence in the area on Friday morning.
Magilligan army camp is just a few miles from the site and within the past few months military personnel have been seen on foot in the area.
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On Thursday night the PSNI said the search area has been extended and that several homes have now been evacuated.
