A GUNSHOT WAS fired and 100 petrol bombs thrown at PSNI officers during a security alert in Lurgan last night.
Officers came under sustained attack for a number of hours with petrol bombs thrown at police cordons, which had been set up after a report of an explosive device beside a railway line.
A further 25 paint bombs, bricks and other masonry were also thrown by what the PSNI say was “a large and aggressive crowd” who gathered at around 9pm and remained until the early hours of the morning.
No police officers or members of the public were injured, however a number of police vehicles were damaged.
Superintendent David Moore has hit out at those responsible.
“The behaviour of those involved in the disorder last night was nothing short of disgusting. At one point a gunman emerged from this crowd and fired at least one shot at police. Mercifully no one was hurt.
Local police officers and TSG colleagues were on the receiving end of orchestrated, intense and prolonged violence for a number of hours last night, all while trying to keep this community safe from what is potentially an explosive device close the railway line.
“We are extremely fortunate this morning not to be talking about officers being seriously injured simply while trying to do their job.
“I am grateful to the officers who were on duty last night for their professionalism and resilience and for the contribution they make to keeping this community safe in extremely challenging circumstances.”
A clearance operation to dispose of the device will continue today and has caused disruption to rail travel, including on the Dublin to Belfast line.
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