Clashes as petrol bombs are thrown at PSNI

There was a riot in Lurgan, County Armagh on Sunday night when more than 100 petrol bombs were thrown by nationalist youths after police cordons were set up in the Lake Street area.

Paint bombs, bricks and other masonry were thrown while the PSNI were investigating what they described as “potentially an explosive device” close to the Portadown railway line.

Video footage of the trouble uploaded to Youtube showed a single gunshot being fired in the direction of police lines. No injuries were reported, although a number of PSNI armoured vehicles were said to have been damaged.

The PSNI said helicopter patrols, specially trained riot police and dog teams had to be brought to deal with the trouble.

Although it was not immediately clear what ignited the disturbances, there were suggestions that it might be linked to a dispute over controlled movement at Maghaberry prison. Republican Prisoners were placed on ‘lockdown’ in their cells on Monday after a riot squad forcibly moved two republican prisoners to a different landing.

Speaking at a press conference Superintendent David Moore said: “The people that are behind this have no ideology, they have nothing to offer, in many respects they can be compared to Daesh, they have got little to offer but destruction in their own communities.”

Sinn Fein representative Catherine Seeley claimed it was an effort to kill members of the PSNI.

“Those behind these attacks have no political vision or strategy.

“It is completely and utterly futile.

“It is important to point out that this does not reflect the views of the community of the north Lurgan area, most of whom, I am sure, would strongly agree that those responsible should stop immediately and allow the community to live in peace.”

Urgent Appeal