Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Armed ‘gangsters’ hijack & torch Housing Exec van
Fourth day of Derry violence slammed
A HOUSING Executive van has been hijacked at gunpoint and torched in the fourth day of violence in Derry.
It is understood the driver was ordered out of the vehicle and it was set alight on Lecky Road at 4pm yesterday.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood branded those behind the attack “gangsters”.
The Foyle MLA added: “It is absolutely disgraceful the driver was intimidated from his work van at gunpoint.
“Derry has suffered enough over the years without gangsters pulling reckless stunts like this, achieving nothing other than bringing the name of a great city into disrepute.
“We u n d e r s t a n d the Housing Executive will be reviewing services throughout the area in the interim due to the safety concerns of their staff.
“These gangsters must realise there is no gain in this behaviour, but simply more and more loss for the city and its residents.” Meanwhile, two police officers and a w oman by st and er were injured in another night of disorder on Monday.
More than 25 petrol bombs were thrown during disturbances in the Bogside area.
A car was also set on fire on Fahan Street and Lecky Road was blocked with burning wooden pallets.
Three people were arrested, with police warning more would follow.
A 16-year-old boy and a man, 50, have been charged.
A 20-year-old man remained in police custody yesterday.