Police Service Northern Ireland vehicle attacked with petrol bombs during republican parade in Londonderry
Police in Northern Ireland have condemned a petrol bomb attack on officers during an Easter parade as "senseless and reckless".
The incendiary devices were thrown at an armoured police Land Rover in Creggan, Londonderry, on Easter Monday, while officers attended what they described as an "unnotified" march by dissident republicans.
The vehicle, which was being used in the monitoring of the parade at the time of the attack, was withdrawn from the scene and no one was reported injured.
Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI) says its officers will review footage of the attack as part of an investigation into potential terrorism offences.
The incident happened on Easter Monday, which this year coincided with the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement - a peace deal that largely ended three decades of sectarian bloodshed in Northern Ireland.
It is also the day dissident republicans traditionally mark the anniversary of the Easter Rising rebellion against British rule in 1916.
One speaker at the parade, which culminated with speeches at the republican plot at the City Cemetery, described the event as "respectful and dignified, paying homage to the revolutionary heroes of 1916 and all the republican dead".
However, Derry City and Strabane Area Commander, Chief Superintendent Nigel Goddard said in a statement: "This is not what we have witnessed today."
"What we saw develop this afternoon in Creggan was incredibly disheartening. As the parade was unnotified, police were in attendance with a proportionate policing operation.
"Sadly, before the parade even started, we observed young people in the vicinity making petrol bombs to throw at police.
"Shortly after the parade commenced, petrol bombs and other objects were thrown at one of our vehicles at the junction of Iniscarn Road and Linsfort Drive.
"This was a senseless and reckless attack on our officers who were in attendance in the area in order to comply with our legal duties."
He added: "There can be no place for this type of criminal activity. It is not wanted nor welcomed by the vast majority of people across the city."
Chief Supt Goddard also called for calm and called on those with influence to help prevent further disorder in the city.
'Reckless behaviour'
The incident was condemned by political leaders in Northern Ireland, including Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O'Neill, who described the violent scenes as "deplorable".
"Twenty-five years on from the Good Friday Agreement this needless street disorder in Derry has no place in our society," she added.
In a post on Twitter, MP Stephen Farry, from the centrist Alliance Party, wrote: "Pathetic. Young men taught to hate by faceless, politically bankrupt cowards.
"Solidarity with the peaceful residents once again living in fear and the PSNI for once again having to manage this type of situation."
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DUP MLA Gary Middleton tweeted: "This reckless behaviour is an attempt to cause harm not only to PSNI officers but to our communities as well.
"There must be swift action to bring those responsible to justice."
Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said: "Absolute wasters. Sent out to riot by men sitting in pubs acting the big lads."
The attack came shortly after Pope Francis praised the 1998 Good Friday agreement.
"In a spirit of gratitude I pray to the God of peace so that what was achieved in that historic step can be consolidated to benefit all the men and women of the island of Ireland," he said in his Easter Monday address at St Peter's Square.
Biden set to visit Northern Ireland
The attack on the police vehicle comes before the arrival of US President Joe Biden in Belfast on Tuesday.
The president's trip to Northern Ireland's capital will have a strong focus on the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
Police had warned that they had "strong" intelligence terror attacks were being planned against their officers on Easter Monday.
PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne said that officers would be moved to frontline duties to counter any potential threats, in a policing strategy he said hadn't been used for years.
He said this reflected the "exceptional circumstances" ahead of the Easter weekend.
MI5 recently raised the terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland to severe, meaning an attack is highly likely.
This followed the shooting of senior detective John Caldwell in Co Tyrone, who has been left with life-changing injuries.
Police have blamed the New IRA for the attack.
