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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Hundreds involved in city riots | Hundreds involved in city riots |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of people have been involved in rioting in Londonderry city centre during the early hours of Sunday. | Hundreds of people have been involved in rioting in Londonderry city centre during the early hours of Sunday. |
| Fencing, paving slabs and bottles were thrown at police during the violence which lasted for several hours. | Fencing, paving slabs and bottles were thrown at police during the violence which lasted for several hours. |
| A police spokesperson said four officers were injured and one member of the public was also taken to hospital with minor injuries. | A police spokesperson said four officers were injured and one member of the public was also taken to hospital with minor injuries. |
| The trouble started in Shipsquay Street at 0200 BST and continued until 0400 BST. One person has been arrested. | The trouble started in Shipsquay Street at 0200 BST and continued until 0400 BST. One person has been arrested. |
| Without those basic levels of equipment, it simply would have been too dangerous for police officers to confront the crowd throwing bricks and paving slabs. Inspector John Burrows | Without those basic levels of equipment, it simply would have been too dangerous for police officers to confront the crowd throwing bricks and paving slabs. Inspector John Burrows |
| A shop and off-licence were ransacked and stolen bottles of alcohol thrown at 50 police officers in riot gear. | A shop and off-licence were ransacked and stolen bottles of alcohol thrown at 50 police officers in riot gear. |
| A BBC marquee in Guildhall Square was also damaged and plasma screens destroyed. | A BBC marquee in Guildhall Square was also damaged and plasma screens destroyed. |
| Foyle MLA William Hay said it was unacceptable behaviour. | |
| "Every right thinking person across the city, irrespective of where they live, would condemn this," he said. | |
| "Everybody believes we left this behind us and the city centre can be shared... there can be no excuse for it." | |
| Police are examining CCTV footage of the disturbances. | Police are examining CCTV footage of the disturbances. |
| Inspector John Burrows said the situation had been "extremely dangerous" and more people could have been injured. | |
| "The officers had to wear riot helmets, they had to have pads on, they had to have shields and they had to use armoured Land Rovers," he said. | "The officers had to wear riot helmets, they had to have pads on, they had to have shields and they had to use armoured Land Rovers," he said. |
| "Without those basic levels of equipment, it simply would have been too dangerous for police officers to confront the crowd throwing bricks and paving slabs." | "Without those basic levels of equipment, it simply would have been too dangerous for police officers to confront the crowd throwing bricks and paving slabs." |