Police escorting British military firefighters on call-outs in Derry came under petrol bomb attack, it was revealed today.
A mob of around 70 nationalist youths hurled eight petrol bombs at the escort vehicles while on a call-out to a reported chip pan fire in the Shantallow area that proved to be a hoax.
In another part of the same area, police escorting Green Goddesses away from a fire started in two garden sheds came under stone and petrol bomb attack from a crowd of 30-40 people.
The attacks were condemned by police and Sinn Fein and the head of the Fire Service.
Emergency services were plagued by hoax call-outs throughout the evening, with more than 50 per cent of calls in the first 18 hours of the strike action were hoaxes - 92 of 173, said police.
Asst Chief Constable Mr Duncan McCausland said: "Detectives are actively investigating the hoax calls and where we have evidence, we will bring people before the courts".
Sinn Féin supported the police position, with Derry assembly member Ms Mary Nellis saying: "No one should try to interfere with someone trying to tackle a fire".
PA