PSNI condemns third night of disorder as officers pelted with petrol bombs

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) came under attack on Monday night (July 9) in the third evening of disorder in Londonderry.

Twenty-six petrol bombs, bottles and items of masonry were hurled at officers deployed in the city’s Bogside region, leaving two officers and a member of the public injured.

The force has now appealed for communities to come together to put an end to the violence blighting their neighbourhoods.

Chief Inspector Alan Hutton said: “The local community needs to see a resolution to this issue now. Collectively, we cannot afford to wait and we cannot have night after night of violence on our streets.

“Following three nights of disorder, we have a number of police officers who are no longer available to deliver their core policing duties, protecting the communities they serve.”

The disorder began when officers were pelted with more than 30 missiles after being deployed to put a stop to anti-Protestant violence in Londonderry on Saturday (July 7).

Three improvised explosives had been thrown near the city’s Fountain estate interface and Nailor’s Row, with one igniting in the mainly Protestant Fountain area.

Some of the aggressors are believed to be as young as ten years old.

Local residents from Bogside held a rally to show support for Fountain communities, denouncing the violence committed against them.

Following the incident on Monday night, a 16-year-old male has been charged with disorderly behaviour, assault on police, resisting police and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

A 20-year-old man and a 50-year-old man arrested during the same evening remain in custody.

The tensions come just days before the annual ‘Eleventh Night’ Protestant celebration that has previously seen violence break out between loyalist and republican groups.