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Searches carried out in Belfast after PSNI vehicle attacked

The PSNI carried out follow-up searches on the Glen Road in west Belfast
The PSNI carried out follow-up searches on the Glen Road in west Belfast The PSNI carried out follow-up searches on the Glen Road in west Belfast

POLICE carried out searches in west Belfast on Sunday after an object struck a PSNI Land Rover and smashed its windscreen.  

The police vehicle was attacked on the Glen Road shortly before 1am on Sunday.

The PSNI said officers stopped and conducted a search for the object, but were unable to locate anything untoward.

A police spokeswoman also said there was no explosion and nothing definitive to suggest that any explosive device had been aimed at the officers.

However, police said "as a precaution" follow-up searches were carried out in the area and a number of roads were closed during the daylight operation.

They later said nothing was found in searches of the area, but "inquiries into exactly what kind of object hit the land rover this morning will continue".

Meanwhile, police used CS spray while responding to a group of drunk and disorderly young people in Lurgan.

There were two arrests as police responded to reports of young people drinking and throwing stones and bottles at passing cars at an underpass at Portadown Road.

Police said around 20 people were involved in the disorder on Friday at around 8.30pm.

In a statement on the PSNI Craigavon Facebook page it said: "As we responded, a crowd of around 20 very drunk and mainly underage kids took exception to our being there, throwing bottles at us and at one stage lifting a large pipe to threaten us with.

"We do not and will not stand for that.

"As a result, two males were arrested. CS spray was used and there will probably be some who still have stingy eyes this morning."

A 21-year-old was arrested and charged with disorderly behaviour, while a 16-year-old was escorted home.

On its Facebook page, it added: "If you are one of the ones who chose not to walk away, but hurl bottles and abuse, or try to intervene in and obstruct the arrests, please - call up to the station and we'll talk more about it...after caution".

Commenting that videos taken would help them identify almost a dozen youths who were obstructive or disorderly, they added: "Tag us when you post them online please".