RUC officers injured in North

Two RUC officers were injured when they were attacked with blast bombs last night in the loyalist area of New Mossley in Newtownabbey.

They were attacked while trying to remove a total of 50 kilos of home-made explosives, which were discovered during a planned search of a derelict flat on the outskirts of Belfast.

The RUC officers were not seriously injured.

Chief Supt Bertie Verner confirmed the onslaught upon his officers occurred as they were trying to remove the explosives from the area.

‘‘Thankfully the situation on the ground has steadied down quite a lot and the area is relatively calm at the moment,’’ he added.