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Politicians urge calm after second night of Londonderry disorder

BBC A number of police Land Rovers can be seen in a row near to Nailors Row in Londonderry. Black bollards line the other side of the road. A large pink building can be seen in the background as well. BBC
There was a heavy police presence in Londonderry dealing with disorder on Tuesday evening

Politicians have condemned attacks on police for the second night running by masked youths in Londonderry.

Petrol bombs and missiles, including masonry, were thrown at officers in the Nailors Row area near the city walls on Tuesday evening.

On Monday night fireworks and masonry were thrown at officers in the same area, injuring three officers.

The SDLP MP for Foyle Colum Eastwood appealed to those involved to stop immediately, saying young people were "putting themselves and others in danger".

A PSNI officer is standing with his back to the camera. He is wearing body armour with the word 'POLICE' written on it. He is looking towards a line of PSNI Land Rovers.
Police asked members of the public to avoid the area on Tuesday evening for a time

He said the scenes on Monday and Tuesday evening were deeply concerning, and appealed for the parents of the young people involved "to get in touch with your kids, make sure they're home and safe".

"It's the last thing that anyone in the city wants or needs, and it needs to stop before someone is seriously hurt or worse," Eastwood said.

"Elderly people living in Alexander House [sheltered accommodation] absolutely don't want or deserve this."

He appealed to young people to think about the consequences of their actions, saying: "This will haunt them for the rest of their lives if they end up with a criminal conviction."

'Anger and disappointment'

The DUP MLA Gary Middleton believes the violence is being organised through social media and is designed to inflame tensions.

"This began after a group of youths attempted to target properties in the Fountain estate," he told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme on Wednesday.

"Officers then came under sustained attack, resulting in three officers being injured.

"What we saw last night [Tuesday] was a clear escalation in that violence, with petrol bombs and other masonry thrown towards the police.

"This occurred close to an older residents' home as well, so these types of attacks serve no purpose other than to harm our communities.

"What we don't want to see is an escalation of this in the coming days and weeks."

He said there was a lot of concern in the nearby mainly-loyalist Fountain estate.

"People don't want to live in fear; they want to live in peace with their neighbours.

"Those young people involved aren't reflective of the wider city.

"That being said, what we have seen over the last few nights can't be ignored and must be addressed."

Community worker Brian Dougherty said the disorder near the Fountain estate had increased tensions, but that there was good work happening on the ground.

He said community leaders had been in touch with their nationalist counterparts in an effort to "counteract any potential bother".

A number of young people can be seen congregating on a grassy embankment near a large pink building. Telephone wires and a picket fence can be seen at the bottom of the hill close to a white building.
Dozens of youths gathered near the city walls on Tuesday evening

The SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan said the scenes on Monday and Tuesday were "completely depressing and frustrating".

He appealed to parents to ensure their children were not involved and also called for calm.

"I have no doubt social media has an awful lot to answer for in this," Durkan said.

"There is no justification or excuse for this kind of activity."

He said there have been "bubbling tensions" in the city over the past number of weeks and said education was important to deter young people from getting involved in the disorder.

"This is not a game and people really need to wise up."

There is a grey brick road with white splashes on it. In a background is a dark-coloured stone wall with grass surrounding it.
On Monday night, fireworks and masonry were thrown at officers in the same area of the city, injuring three officers

On Monday, two officers were struck by masonry, while a third was hit by a firework.

A boy aged 13 and an 18-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour and released on bail pending further enquiries.

The police confirmed that the disorder on Monday was not racially motivated.