Couple and sons escape injury in petrol bomb attack

A married couple and their three-year-old twin sons narrowly escaped injury in a petrol bomb attack on their north Belfast home today.

A number of other Catholic homes in Skegoniel Avenue were also damaged when a large crowd of loyalist youths launched an attack with bricks and stones at about 2am.

Nine cars were damaged in the incident, including three vehicles which were completely burnt out.

Two of the vehicles were burnt out in Skegoniel Avenue, while the other was set alight in nearby Glandore Avenue.

Police had to use a Land Rover at one point to move one of the burning vehicles, which was close to a home and in danger of setting it on fire.

This is the second such attack on Catholic homes in the area in as many days.

In the early hours of yesterday morning, loyalists launched what police branded ‘‘an unprovoked sectarian attack’’.

A loyalist mob stormed over the peace line and began attacking Catholic homes in the nearby Ligoniel area.

One house was destroyed in a petrol bomb attack and windows were broken in nine more.

Two paramedics needed hospital treatment after the emergency services were ambushed by stone-throwing youths when called to the area.

One was kept in hospital with head injuries after being struck by a breeze block hurled through the side window of his ambulance.

Another paramedic needed treatment to remove glass fragments from his eyes after youths smashed the window of his ambulance.