21/03/2003

Woman police officer injured during riots

A woman police officer was injured last night as a police station in west Belfast came under petrol bomb attack.

The officer was injured during rioting in the loyalist Ballygomartin Road area.

It is understood that the trouble started after police were called in to keep rival nationalist and loyalist factions apart.

Tensions further escalated with up to five petrol bombs thrown at police in the nearby Springmartin Road area. A number of police Land Rovers were also attacked.

The trouble then moved onto the New Barnsley police station where a loyalist gang attempted to gain entry before being eventually pinned back by police re-enforcements.

Two men were arrested were subsequently arrested following the disturbances.

Independent Unionist councillor Frank McCoubrey accused the police of being heavy handed during the clashes and said that tension had been simmering since Sunday's Old Firm derby between Ranges and Celtic in the CIS Insurance cup final.

(MB)

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