Police in riot gear gather on the city’s walls before moving into the Bogside
Sixteen petrol bombs and five paint bombs were also thrown into the Fountain estate on Tuesday night where elderly and vulnerable residents have been cowering in fear in Alexander House.
The police believe at least six shots were fired, striking the city’s walls and nearby trees.
There were no injuries but Chief Inspector Neil Beck said it was “a blatant bid to murder police officers”.
“Police officers should not be targeted under any circumstances and their lives should not be put in danger by simply doing their jobs,” said Inspector Beck.
“I am appealing to those with influence in the area to please assist us in trying to bring this unnecessary and unwanted violence to an end.
“This isn’t wanted by the community and those involved are urged to cease this activity immediately.
“A number of males have been charged in connection with disorder over previous evenings. We have a robust strategy in place to identify those involved in the trouble of recent days and I am confident of further arrests.”
A woman and two police officers were injured following disorder on Monday night.
The Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Rt Rev Ken Good, and the Bishop of Derry, Dr Donal McKeown, paid a joint visit to the Fountain and Bogside on Tuesday afternoon, to meet people who had been affected by the attacks over the past few days.
As the bishops left St Columb’s Wells, a van was abandoned at the foot of the Lecky Road flyover and set on fire.
The bishops look on as the trouble continues in the Bogside duringi their visit to residents on Tuesday
BBC News NI’s Dean McLaughlin reports from the Bogside:
The Bogside and Fountain areas of the city have been badly scorched over the past few nights and weeks.
The sound of the PSNI helicopter has become part of daily life and some residents have said they are willing to pack their bags and leave their homes.
A woman and two police officers have been injured and the city’s walls have been damaged because of petrol and paint bombs.
A number of councillors have blamed dissident republicans for orchestrating the violence.
One young person in the Bogside told me that the violence will continue and that he and his friends text each other on an hourly basis. He would not comment on whether or not they were being directed by dissident republican’s.
Chairman of the Police Federation, Mark Lindsay, said: “I’m totally disgusted that in 2018 we are still seeing police officers being subjected to murder bids.
“This is clearly being orchestrated by sinister groups and we are very concerned about that.
“I’ve no doubt that dissident republican’s are behind this.
“Children in the area might think this is the right thing to do. That is not the case.”
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