A NUMBER of shots were fired at a PSNI patrol in Craigavon, Co Armagh, in a day of violence which unionist and nationalist politicians said was orchestrated by dissident republicans.
Police said four or five shots were fired at the patrol in the Brownlow Road area of Craigavon shortly before 8pm last night.
A man was observed "in a crouching position" firing the shots from "a long-barrelled weapon". None of the officers was injured. A blast bomb was hurled at police earlier in the day.
PSNI Deputy District Commander Supt Alan McCrum said the shooting brought yesterday's violence to another level. "This is a deliberate attempt to murder my officers. Police will continue in their efforts to bring calm to the area in despite of the attacks upon them," he said.
The violence erupted yesterday morning in the Drumbeg and Tullygally areas of Craigavon and continued throughout the day after the PSNI mounted a security operation based on a number of bomb warnings.
In addition to the shooting and blast bomb attacks, police were also pelted with petrol bombs, stones, bottles and other missiles during the disturbances yesterday.
Several cars were hijacked and torched during the rioting, while police Land Rovers also came under attack. There were no reports of serious injuries.
SDLP Upper Bann Assembly Member Dolores Kelly said dissidents were behind the violence.
She said that, in nearby Lurgan yesterday evening, after visiting a desecrated graveyard, her car was attacked by a small group of youths, some wearing balaclavas.
"My car windscreen was smashed and I also sustained an injury to my lower leg after being struck by another object," she said.
Local DUP MP David Simpson blamed dissident republicans for fomenting the trouble. It was clear that dissidents were trying to lure police officers into a position where they could be murdered, he said. Mr Simpson said Sinn Féin should "show leadership" and encourage "full and total co-operation with the police" rather than issuing "foolish threats" about walking out of the Northern Executive.
Local Sinn Féin MLA John O'Dowd also condemned the violence. "The people behind these incidents are anti-social and anti-community," he said.
DUP Minister Arlene Foster and DUP Assembly colleagues Lord Morrow, Jimmy Spratt, Thomas Buchanan and Peter Weir met PSNI Deputy Chief Constable Paul Leighton yesterday to discuss the threat posed by dissident republicans following recent attacks in Fermanagh and elsewhere.
"Tough action is called for now to eliminate these groups," said Ms Foster. "The police should be given the resources and the support they need to take the fight to the dissident Republicans."
