Fifth night of violence at the Fountain

A serious flare up in violence began last Friday evening and has continued each evening despite the intervention of the PSNI in the city.

Children estimated to be as young as seven have taken part in the violence which has included the use of petrol bombs, bricks and bottles. The attackers have been accessing the Fountain/Bishop Street interface via Nailors Row and a laneway adjacent to Alexander House-a residential care facility for the elderly.

Police have said they have clear CCTV footage of the culprits and will seek to bring those responsible to justice.

However the Sentinel has learned that last nights mob, estimated to be around 40 strong, included older male youths aged 18 and above. Residents of the area have also claimed that young girls, some wearing secondary school uniforms, have participated in the violence.

Youth worker, Graham Warke, from the Fountain's Cathedral Youth Club told the Sentinel that last nights violence was as concentrated as all the other previous nights.

He said that last nights attacks commenced at roughly 6.45pm. "There was hardly a single young man left in the Fountain last night because we have been taking them over to the Waterside every night to play football and keep them from getting involved, but the area was still attacked.

"When I came back at 8.45pm last night the police had removed the attackers from the area. But, when the police moved away, about 20 of them came back and launched another attack. I had to call 999 to get the police back and the crowd eventually dispersed about ten to ten."

A police spokeswoman told the Sentinel that with regard to last nights violence: "Police responded to public disorder in the Fountain area on Tuesday evening (25th). Paint bombs, stones and bottles were thrown by young people and the front seat of a car set on fire. "

For more information about violence at the interface see today's edition of the Londonderry Sentinel.