Sinn Fein chief Martin McGuinness condemns bus attack as “shameful”
THE PSNI say a woman sustained a considerable facial injury after stones were thrown at a bus.
The attack happened as the coach was travelled through the village of Dungiven, following the annual Apprentice Boys parade in Derry on Saturday evening.
Three other passengers were injured during the incident on Saturday.
A 16-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the incident.
The bus was carrying people from north Belfast who had travelled up to Derry for the event and were returning home when it was hit with a fusilade of stones.
Sinn Fein deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness condemned the attack.
He tweeted: “The stoning and injuries to passengers on a bus in Dungiven returning from the Apprentice Boys parade in Derry was shameful.
“I strongly condemn it.”
DUP MLA Nelson McCausland said windows were smashed and the woman was hit in the face with a large stone.
The injured woman was taken to hospital for treatment for cuts and the loss of teeth.
Said Mr McCausland: “The people who carried out the attack must have known that hired buses passing through the village were bringing people home from the parade in Derry.
“This was a sectarian attack and should be treated as a hate crime.”
Local Sinn Féin Councillor Tony McCaul has said that there were no excuses for the attack.
“There is no excuse for attacking a bus with stones and again we are fortunate not to be dealing with a much more serious incident where people could have been killed if the driver lost control of the vehicle,” he said.
Superintendent Mark McEwan, the Derry City and Strabane District Commander, said: “An arrest has been made in relation to the incident, and an investigation is continuing.”
He said the incident was the “only blemish” after the day passed off peacefully in Derry.
“Today saw another successful Apprentice Boys parade take place in the city,” he said.
“I would like to thank the Apprentice Boys, the business community of Derry, community groups across the city, our partner agencies and the people of the city who worked tirelessly to deliver a successful event.”