Police came under petrol bomb and blast bomb attack in Northern Ireland today.

Cars were also hijacked and set on fire during trouble which flared while police were carrying out searches in Craigavon, Co Armagh, following bomb warnings from dissident republicans.

Nothing was found during the security operation but tensions boiled over into confrontation.

Police said numerous petrol bombs and at least one blast bomb were thrown at officers.

Motorists were warned to keep away after attacks on police in the Tullyglass and Drumbeg areas.

A number of cars as well as a council vehicle were hijacked and set on fire and several police vehicles damaged. There were no reports of injuries.

A police spokesman said a 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of hijacking.

The violence followed petrol bomb attacks on police in nationalist areas of south and west Belfast late last night