Three police vehicles have been hit by gunfire in north Belfast.

The attack took place about yesterday evening at 19:10 as the PSNI vehicles travelled along Crumlin Road, near Brompton Park.

Holy Cross Boys Primary School in Brookfield Street has been closed to facilitate a police operation.

Homes have been evacuated in Herbert Street, Butler Walk, Butler Place and Elmfield Street.

Policing Board Chair Anne Connolly said: "It is sad that these evil people have no care for who they hurt and I am grateful that officers and members of the community escaped without injury in this gun attack.

"I join with others in calling for any information on this incident to be passed to the police."

North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds said: "This was a clear attempt to murder police officers with shots fired from Ardoyne at the Land Rovers. Thankfully no one was injured in this attack but it is vital that those responsible are identified and brought to justice.

"This would obviously appear to be the work of dissident republicans and I would hope that the community in Ardoyne will stand against those responsible and with the police as they carry out their investigations."

Sinn Féin MLA for north Belfast Gerry Kelly said: "This attack on the PSNI was reckless and has endangered the local community in Ardoyne.

"The PSNI vehicles were traveling up the Crumlin Road when fired upon. Anyone could have been in the vicinity of Holy Cross Chapel at this time which was the direction in which the shots were fired.

"The PSNI were traveling to Twaddell Avenue where they are in place each night in order to prevent illegal marches past Ardoyne. The people of Ardoyne understand this.

"They understand that those behind this attack are serving their own narrow agenda and are in no way representative of this community."

SDLP Belfast City councillor Nichola Mallon said: "This is the latest incident to cause major disruption in the area. Families will have to sort out last minute child care arrangements, which is inconvenience they don’t need on a Friday morning.

"Between the nightly protest parades and the car that was hijacked in Jamaica Street and used to transport the bomb into the city centre, people are concerned things are spiralling; that every time Ardoyne appears on the news it is for negative reasons, and that is not an accurate reflection."

Ulster Unionist Policing Board member Ross Hussey MLA said: "The PSNI are doing an extremely difficult job in trying to protect the entire community.

"There is absolutely no excuse for any group or individual to engage in attacks on the Police. The use of weapons is nothing short of attempted murder and it is clear that criminal elements remain hell-bent on trying to drag the community back to the dark days which this society has clearly demonstrated that it wants to leave behind."

(IT/CD)