Shot Fired At Police In Lurgan

A gunshot was fired and over 100 petrol bombs thrown at police cordons in Lurgan, Co Armagh.

The incident occurred in the Lake Street area on Sunday night.

A total of 25 paint bombs, bricks and other masonry were also thrown by a large crowd who gathered at around 9pm and remained until the early hours of the morning.

No police officers were injured, however a number of police vehicles were damaged.

Superintendent David Moore said: "The behaviour of those involved in the disorder last night was nothing short of disgusting. At one point a gunman emerged from this crowd and fired at least one shot at police. Mercifully no one was hurt.

"Local police officers and TSG colleagues were on the receiving end of orchestrated, intense and prolonged violence for a number of hours last night, all while trying to keep this community safe from what is potentially an explosive device close the railway line.

"We are extremely fortunate this morning not to be talking about officers being seriously injured simply while trying to do their job.

"I am grateful to the officers who were on duty last night for their professionalism and resilience and for the contribution they make to keeping this community safe in extremely challenging circumstances."

Sinn Féin's Catherine Seeley condemned the attack.

She said: "I totally condemn last night's disturbances in Lurgan during which at least one shot was fired at the PSNI and a number of petrol bombs thrown.

"This was clearly an effort to murder police officers but thankfully no one was injured.

"Those responsible for this attack and organising and co-ordinating this rioting and disruption nothing to offer the community.

"Local people and commuters are fed up with these incidents which serve absolutely no purpose except to disrupt lives and services.

"Recently this activity has disrupted people on their way to work, when preparing their children for school, local doctors' services have been affected, as has Home Help and other medical services in the area.

"Those behind these attacks have no political vision or strategy.

"It is completely and utterly futile."

(CD)