PSNI treating attack on officer in Belfast as attempted murder

King Ludvig

An attack by loyalists on a police officer in Belfast last night is being treated as attempted murder.

A gang of 15 masked men tossed a petrol bomb into an unmarked police vehicle after surrounding and smashing it outside the offices of Alliance Party MP Naomi Long.

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable George Hamilton said the officer was lucky to escape with her life.

It was the worst incident in another night of sporadic violence in parts of east and south Belfast.

Loyalists took to the streets again in protest against a decision by Belfast City Council to restrict the flying of the union flag at Belfast City Hall.

Officers were also attacked with petrol bombs in south Belfast close to the M1.

More talks are planned today between DUP leader and NI First Minister Peter Robinson and Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt to try to agree a political strategy to ease tensions and end the violence.

It follows a meeting between the pair in Belfast yesterday.

They have been heavily criticised by nationalist representatives over their leadership since the trouble flared a week ago.

The violence followed a council decision to limit the flying of the union flag to designated days.

Ms Long's Alliance Party has been blamed by loyalists for supporting the nationalist SDLP and Sinn Féin in pushing through the vote to lower the flag.

Last night she said there could be no justification for the attacks.

She added: "If Northern Ireland is to move forward then we need a strict adherence to the rule of law and respect for the democratic process. We need this urgently before lives are lost."

There were also protests last night in Limavady, Co Derry, Ballyclare, Co Antrim, Ballycastle, Co Antrim, and Cookstown, Co Tyrone, where the car of a DUP member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Ian McCrea, was surrounded by angry loyalists.

Several roads in Belfast were blocked and at one stage police were also attacked with petrol bombs and fireworks at Broadway, not far from the M1.

Meanwhile in Armagh city, Sinn Féin accused masked loyalists of attacking a pub, The Cuchulainn Bar, after staging an impromptu march with no police presence.

They claimed windows were smashed and fireworks thrown.

A statement said: "The protests, intimidation and violence needs to end and unionist politicians need to be to the fore using whatever influence they have in ensuring this happens."

PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott said the some of the violence was intense and there was clearly some paramilitary involvement.

It was fortunate no one was seriously injured, he claimed, adding that the situation in some areas was very tense.

He said: "There has to be a collective voice to bring this to an end."

http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/1211/belfast-union-flag-psni.html


Wishing her a full and speedy recovery.

MagicSean

Can't see how you could call it anything other than attempted murder. Their intent was pretty clear as far as i can see.