News

Lurgan police attack condemned

AN attack on police that involved missiles, petrol bombs and paint bombs in Co Armagh has been condemned.

A crowd of people attacked PSNI officers at about 9.30pm on Friday after the railway line in Lurgan was closed following a report that two young men went into a control hut and told the controller there was a device on the line.

Army bomb experts examined the device and said it was a hoax, before police officers came under attack as they dealt with the security alert.

A 30-year-old man has been arrested and charged with disorderly behaviour and criminal damage.

SDLP MLA Dolores Kelly said a "deliberate attempt" had been made to "lure police into the area where they could be attacked".

"The whole community here is very annoyed at what happened," Ms Kelly said. "This is something we thought we had left behind us in the distant past."

Upper Bann DUP MP David Simpson said lives had been put at risk.

"There is no place in society for such attacks and it is only through community engagement with police that we can put an end to it," he said.

"I have no doubt that those responsible have no thought or consideration for the community and the officers that serve so selflessly to protect us.

"People's lives were put at risk and severe disruption was caused during the alert."

Sinn Féin councillor Catherine Seeley said the attack was "not supported by the wider north Lurgan community" and she wished the officers involved a speedy recovery.

"I wholeheartedly condemn this attack and call on anyone with information to forward it to the PSNI," she said.

Several trains were stopped from using the line during the alert.