Children aged 8 in Derry rioting

Local & National

Warning to parents after police are petrol bombed

Monday, March 24, 2008

A warning was today issued to parents as it emerged children as young as eight were caught up in violence directed at police investigating a sudden death in Londonderry.

Two male teenagers were arrested after the attack on police in the Iniscarin area of Creggan on Friday, but were later released pending reports.

The unrest occurred in broad daylight at 3.30pm.

Petrol bombs, paint bombs and stones were hurled and damage was caused to a car owned by a member of the public during the trouble.

The PSNI has strongly condemned the behaviour of the youths involved.

A spokeswoman said: "Police attended the area shortly before 3.30pm in response to a report from a member of the community. A group of youths gathered and threw stones and petrol bombs.

"A police vehicle and a vehicle belonging to a member of the public were damaged by a paint bomb while a second police vehicle received scorch damage from a petrol bomb.

"There can be no excuse for this type of behaviour and it should be widely condemned by everyone. Police officers should be allowed to carry out their day-to-day duties without being attacked."

SDLP councillor and Creggan resident, Jim Clifford, said that it was lucky that no one was badly hurt.

"Petrol bombs are a lethal weapon and I thought these days were over," he said.

"The police jeeps were up to investigate a sudden death.

"I didn't see the bother but the young ones were throwing these things from Bishop's Field right across the road - it was lucky that more cars were not hit or they could have gone straight over the road and into houses and set them on fire.

"More worryingly there were apparently children of eight and nine running around after the older ones, watching it all and copying.

"Where are the parents of these children?

"I would ask the older ones to catch themselves on and stop this before someone gets hurt, and for parents to keep an eye out for their children and not let young ones from the age of eight get caught up in this sort of behaviour."

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the PSNI at Strand Road on 0845 6008000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.