Policeman injured by stone-throwing crowd
A policeman was injured early today during disturbances in west Belfast.
He was one of a number of officers who came under attack from a stone-throwing crowd at Monagh Road near the Turf Lodge area.
The stone-throwers began hurling missiles at police vehicles and the officer was struck on the forehead by a brick as he was getting into his vehicle, said a police spokesman.
He was taken to hospital where his wounds were stitched up – he was not believed to have been seriously injured.
Meanwhile, loyalists were being blamed for a gun attack on a west Belfast house.
A man and a young girl narrowly escaped injury after a shot was fired at the back door of a house in the nationalist Lower Falls area.
The 37-year-old man and his 12-year-old cousin were washing dishes at the house at Grove Tree North at about 7pm last night when they heard a loud crack.
The man, who did not want to be identified, said that when he went to investigate, a bullet fell out of the door.
He told PA News he did not know why anyone would want to target him.
“I am not a member of any political party. They had no reason to fire at my home or target me,” he said.
Sinn Féin councillor Tom Hartley, who visited the home, said it was believed loyalists were responsible for the attack.
“There is suspicion in the area that this is the work of loyalists. There was an attack in the same area recently. I’m asking people to be vigilant when they go out late at night.”
