Police come under bomb attack after searches in north

POLICE have come under petrol bomb and blast bomb attack in the north.

Cars were also hijacked and set on fire during trouble which flared while police were carrying out searches in Craigavon, Co Armagh, following bomb warnings from dissident republicans.

Nothing was found during the security operation but tensions boiled over into confrontation.

Police said numerous petrol bombs and at least one blast bomb were thrown at officers.

Motorists were warned to keep away after attacks on police in the Tullyglass and Drumbeg areas.

A number of cars as well as a council vehicle were hijacked and set on fire and several police vehicles damaged. There were no reports of injuries.

A police spokesman said a 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of hijacking.

The violence followed petrol bomb attacks on police in nationalist areas of south and west Belfast late last night.

Upper Bann MP David Simpson condemned the Craigavon attacks and called on people to help the security forces stamp out dissident republican violence.

He said: “This latest violence in Craigavon is linked to dissident republicans. It is further evidence of the extent of the fracture that has occurred within the republican movement and represents a major challenge for the security forces.”

The DUP MP said an attempt was made to lure police into a potentially life-threatening situation.

He added: “It is clear that dissident republicans have set themselves the goal of murdering police officers.

“This is now a time for Sinn Féin to show leadership. As the First Minister has said it is time for them to stop looking over their shoulders at these dissident groups and encourage full and total co-operation with the police.”

Local SDLP Assembly member Dolores Kelly also hit out at those behind the violence.

She said: “Blast bombs are lethal weapons and it is extremely fortunate that no one was seriously injured or killed in this cowardly attack.

Earlier, Sinn Féin Assembly member Alex Maskey said there was no excuse for the trouble in Belfast last night.

Roads were closed to traffic when crowds of youths turned on police after they moved in to stop the stoning of cars passing the Markets and Short Strand areas.

Mr Maskey condemned those responsible for what he called “wanton disregard of the good name of their area, never mind the safety of people passing”.

He added: “It is very disappointing that we had a number of young people gathered last night who started to throw stones and other missiles at passing vehicles — some of which contained young children.

“It is just unacceptable and very, very regrettable that what was a small number of young people have caused this damage.”

He said it flew in the face of the efforts of people in the nationalist areas to work with young people and provide activities for them.