Paramedics Attacked On Duty

A team from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service has been attacked while treating an assault victim in Coleraine, County L'Derry.

NIAS said a group of about ten young men surrounded an ambulance in the Mount Street area of the town at about 20:00 on Tuesday while the crew was inside the vehicle treating the patient.

Apparently, an object was thrown at the the ambulance and the front windscreen was smashed. The crew then called the police.

"When they arrived on scene and it was safe for the crew to leave their vehicle, it became clear that another incident had occurred in the street resulting in a person having been stabbed," an NIAS spokesman said.

"Another ambulance was sent to the scene while the crew who moments earlier were taking refuge in their vehicle immediately tended to the victim of the stabbing."

Police attended the scene and made two arrests. An 18-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon, while a second male, aged 17, was arrested for common assault and criminal damage.

(IT/MH)