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Teenagers arrested as police come under attack

weapons: Petrol bombs seized by police in Derry’s Bogside area on Tuesday evening
weapons: Petrol bombs seized by police in Derry’s Bogside area on Tuesday evening weapons: Petrol bombs seized by police in Derry’s Bogside area on Tuesday evening

Five teenagers, one aged just 14, were arrested in Derry as trouble flared in the city for a second night.

Police also seized petrol bombs after wooden pallets were set on fire at Lecky Road Flyover in the city's Bogside on Tuesday evening.

While the disturbances in the Bogside and in the Galliagh area of the city were not on the same scale as those witnessed on Monday, a number of petrol bombs were thrown at police patrols.

PSNI chief inspector Andy Lemon said three 16-year-old youths and one 14-year-old were arrested in the Westland Street area of the Bogside and a 16-year-old was arrested at Collon Lane in the Galliagh area. All five were later released pending further investigations and a report to the Public Prosecution Service.

Chief Inspector Lemon said officers also seized petrol bombs and other items. The PSNI commander said the prompt actions of his officers prevented a repeat of the violence of Monday night when a delivery van was hijacked and set on fire and petrol bombs were thrown at the city’s Verbal Arts Centre.

He said: "It is concerning to see teenagers, some as young as 14, getting caught up in this violence and I appeal to parents to make it their business to know where their children are and what they are doing.

"Young people need to listen to our message - you run the very real risk of being arrested and getting a criminal record which could affect your life for a very long time."