Ambulance crew hold protest following attack

Ambulance crews and other emergency services personnel have held an impromptu protest outside City Hall.

The hour-long stoppage was held as a protest at the injury of two paramedics when they were attacked by gangs of youths in the Ligoniel area of north Belfast on Thursday evening.

The ambulance crew-members were set upon after emergency services were dispatched to the area at 2300 BST on Thursday following reported disturbances involving loyalist youths who where throwing stones and petrol bombs at a number of Catholic homes.

One of the crew-members suffered head injuries when a concrete block was thrown through a side window of his ambulance.

The second had glass splinters removed from his eyes after the windows of his ambulance were smashed. He was later released from hospital after the pieces of glass were removed from his eyes.

North Belfast SDLP councillor, Martin Morgan hit out at the violence, and specifically the attacks on Catholic homes, which he said were not "spontaneous" attacks, but "a carefully planned and concerted attack designed to both injure and intimidate".

Several residents, including a number of children, were treated at the scene after being injured in the attacks.

(MB/SP)