Petrol bombs and other projectiles were thrown at police in Londonderry for a second straight night, with violence centred in the Waterside's Top Of The Hill area. Motorists were advised to avoid several roads while officers in riot gear and community workers sought to restore order. Under-13 football training was halted at the Waterside Shared Village after police asked teams to leave, and two windows of a Sinn Féin office on Spencer Road were smashed. Local politicians urged calm and warned that young people may have been manipulated into taking part.
Petrol Bombs Thrown at Police for Second Night as Londonderry Violence Spreads
DUP MLA Julie Middleton says young people involved in the trouble were being manipulated [BBC]
Petrol bombs and other missiles were hurled at police during a second consecutive night of unrest in Londonderry, with violence centred on the Top Of The Hill area of the Waterside.
What Happened
On Monday evening, officers came under attack in the Waterside neighbourhood as groups threw petrol bombs, paint projectiles and masonry. The previous night, police had also been targeted in the Strabane Old Road and Irish Street areas with petrol bombs, fireworks and bottles.
Large numbers of police in riot gear were involved the operation in the Waterside [Aodhán Roberts]
Local Impact
Motorists were warned to avoid Chapel Road, Strabane Old Road and Irish Street while a policing operation was under way. Large numbers of officers in riot gear were deployed to restore order.
Youth football training at the Waterside Shared Village was halted after police advised coaches and parents to clear the site. Julie Ann Coll, whose son was training with an under-13 team, said officers approached parents at about 20:15 BST and asked them to leave.
Two windows of a Sinn Féin constituency office were smashed overnight [BBC]
"They're an under-13 football team, they don't fully understand what's going on, but they were scared tonight," Coll said. "My son and his teammates, their coaches, and at least five other wee teams had to pack up early and leave their football training."
Responses
DUP MLA Julie Middleton said community workers had spent several hours on the ground trying to calm tensions. Speaking on BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today, she said she believed some participants were "children not much older than my nine-year-old" who had been encouraged to take part in the disorder.
"I am a mother and I don't think any child grows up to hate, or throw a petrol bomb," Middleton said. "Young people have clearly been manipulated to throw these petrol bombs, paint bombs and masonry."
Meanwhile, two windows of a Sinn Féin constituency office on Spencer Road in the Waterside were smashed overnight. Sinn Féin councillor Christopher Jackson described the damage as a "cowardly attack" and said those responsible "have nothing to offer."
Appeal
Local leaders have appealed for calm and called on figures with influence in all communities to intervene and prevent further escalation. Police and community workers continue to monitor the area as investigations proceed.
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