Police injured in mob attack

Four police officers were injured today when they were attacked with bottles and bricks by a 30-strong mob in the North.

Two shots were fired in a bid to calm the disturbance in north Belfast, during which a policewoman was struck in the face with a bottle.

The trouble started after four men got out of a car and launched missiles at Tennant Street police station, shortly after 1am.

They drove off into Montreal Street, followed by two police officers, but abandoned their vehicle and were eventually pursued on foot.

Minutes later, one of the suspects grabbed the policewoman and hit her in the face with a bottle.

A hostile crowd emerged from a local pub and surrounded the officers, who managed to return to their vehicle but were unable to start it.

The vehicle then came under a hail of missiles and was seriously damaged as the officers waited on reinforcements to arrive.

A Police Service of Northern Ireland spokeswoman said two shots were fired as police attempted calm the disturbance.

Four officers were hurt but their injuries were not serious.

One man has been arrested in connection with the trouble.

Afterwards, a van was set on fire in Cambrai Street and police were maintaining a presence in the area this morning.

Meanwhile, a police Land Rover was set on fire in Derry as officers came under attack with petrol bombs and other missiles.

Police came under sustained attack after they were called to an incident in Drumleck Gardens yesterday evening.

A number of men forced their way into a house and threatened the occupants.

One man was arrested. A PSNI spokeswoman said no one was injured in the trouble, which ended at around 9pm.