Politicians urge calm after second night of Londonderry disorder

Shows a white police Land Rover with blue and yellow squares on the side and a youth in a grey tracksuit to the leftNI Emergency Response Vids

A police Land Rover in flames during last night's rioting

Politicians have condemned attacks on police for the second night running by masked youths in Londonderry.

Petrol bombs and missiles, including masonry, were thrown at officers in the Nailors Row area near the city walls on Tuesday evening.

On Monday night fireworks and masonry were thrown at officers in the same area, injuring three officers.

The SDLP MP for Foyle Colum Eastwood appealed to those involved to stop immediately, saying young people were "putting themselves and others in danger".

Shows riot police dressed in black with helmets and riot shields standing on a grass verge with Derry walls and trees in the background. NI Emergency Response Vids

Riot police, some with dogs, face off against nationalist youths on ground between the city walls and the Bogside

He said the scenes on both nights were deeply concerning, and appealed for the parents of the young people involved "to get in touch with your kids, make sure they're home and safe".

"It's the last thing that anyone in the city wants or needs, and it needs to stop before someone is seriously hurt or worse," Eastwood said.

"Elderly people living in Alexander House [sheltered accommodation] absolutely don't want or deserve this."

He appealed to young people to think about the consequences of their actions, saying: "This will haunt them for the rest of their lives if they end up with a criminal conviction."

A number of young people can be seen congregating on a grassy embankment near a large pink building. Telephone wires and a picket fence can be seen at the bottom of the hill close to a white building.

Dozens of youths gathered near the city walls on Tuesday evening

'Anger and disappointment'

The DUP MLA Gary Middleton believes the violence is being organised through social media and is designed to inflame tensions.

"This began after a group of youths attempted to target properties in the Fountain estate," he told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme on Wednesday.

"Officers then came under sustained attack, resulting in three officers being injured.

"What we saw last night [Tuesday] was a clear escalation in that violence, with petrol bombs and other masonry thrown towards the police.

"What we don't want to see is an escalation of this in the coming days and weeks."

He said there was a lot of concern in the nearby mainly-loyalist Fountain estate.

"People don't want to live in fear; they want to live in peace with their neighbours.

"Those young people involved aren't reflective of the wider city.

"That being said, what we have seen over the last few nights can't be ignored and must be addressed."

Shows several police Land Rovers and riot police in black and wearing helmets in front of a police tape and a historic arch on the city wallsNI Emergency Response Vids

Riot police cordon off part of Bishop Street during the trouble

Community worker Brian Dougherty said the disorder near the Fountain estate had increased tensions, but that good work was happening on the ground.

He said community leaders had been in touch with other community workers in an effort to "counteract any potential bother".

Mark H Durkan is wearing a green and white striped tie, white shirt, and a navy blazer. He is standing near to Derry's historic walls.

Mark H Durkan has appealed for calm and called for the disorder to end

The SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan told BBC Radio Foyle that the scenes on Monday and Tuesday were "completely depressing and frustrating".

He appealed to parents to ensure their children were not involved and also called for calm.

"I have no doubt social media has an awful lot to answer for in this," Durkan said.

"There is no justification or excuse for this kind of activity."

He said there have been "bubbling tensions" in the city over the past number of weeks and said education was important to deter young people from getting involved in the disorder.

"This is not a game and people really need to wise up."

Pádraig Delargy has short brown hair. He is is wearing a grey fleece and a blue shirt. He is standing near to Derry's historic walls and a number of houses in the Bogside can be seen in the background.

Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy says the violence is causing distress to local residents

Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy condemned the violence.

"I am appealing for calm and for those involved to stop causing havoc in our community and distress to local residents," he said.

"They will not distract from the progress being made by the vast majority of people in Derry who are working hard to transform our city and build a better future."

There is a grey brick road with white splashes on it. In a background is a dark-coloured stone wall with grass surrounding it.

On Monday night, fireworks and masonry were thrown at officers in the same area of the city, injuring three officers

On Monday, two officers were struck by masonry, while a third was hit by a firework.

A boy aged 13 and an 18-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour and released on bail pending further enquiries.

The police confirmed that the disorder on Monday was not racially motivated.

Related topics

More on this story