Gang attacks police

Police in north Belfast have come under attack by a 30-strong gang who slashed their tyres and rammed a patrol car, it emerged today.

Six patrol vehicles were damaged when police entered the Ballysillan area to recover a stolen motorcycle.

They were set upon by a gang of 30 youths who threw a petrol bomb, setting alight a car and van at around 8pm yesterday evening.

A fire crew was called to deal with the blaze while the youths slashed the tyres of five patrol vehicles and rammed a sixth.

Police said no one was injured in the trouble, which lasted two hours.