Derry Riots Follow Hoax Bomb Call

Derry's Bogside was rocked last night when rioting broke out during a hoax bomb alert.

Londonderry police offices came under attack from a hail of missiles - but escaped injury - as the gang, of up to 40 youths, lobbed petrol bombs, bricks, bottles and sticks at them.

The PSNI officers had responded to reports of a suspicious device on the windscreen of a vehicle in the Rossville Street area.

The area was cordoned off and Army Technical Officers were called to the scene before the device was declared a hoax at 2.45am on Wednesday morning.

Inspector John Allen condemned the attack on PSNI personnel and appealed for members of the local community to assist in the identification of those involved: "My officers were hindered in their attempts to prevent damage or injury to members of the local community," he said.

The police are appealing for anyone with information on the alert to contact them.

Meanwhile, local SDLP councillor John Tierney condemned the trouble: "It was obviously a ploy to get the police in, because when they did come in there were petrol bombs, rockets and other missiles thrown at them.

"Even people who were out for the night, they were saying the same as me, condemning it, saying they were disgusted at it," he said.

(BMcC)