A breeze block was dropped on a police car from a high-rise flat in the New Lodge area of north Belfast in what police are describing as a deliberate and reckless attack on officers.
It happened at around 8.50pm last night and police said it was the second such attack in days in the New Lodge.
On Saturday August 21 a "missile was thrown from a block of flats" in Victoria Parade at around 8.45pm.
The PSNI said that in the latest attack "a breeze block was thrown from a high rise flat at Churchill House" and landed on the roof of a police vehicle. PSNI Chief Inspector Fox said that if the vehicle had not been armoured "there is no doubt whatsoever that one of my officers could have been very seriously injured or worse".
CI Fox described it as a "reprehensible attack" that had caused substantial damage to the vehicle and that attacks on police are "attacks on the community as a whole".
“It is commendable that all of the officers involved, whilst shook up, continued to work their shifts, responding to calls, and protecting those most vulnerable who need our help and assistance."
Anyone with information can report it online using the PSNI non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport. Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org