PSNI investigating night of unrest in Derry

Shots have been reported to be fired for the second night running in Derry.

Local police have said they are looking into a number of disturbances which occurred overnight, including a report of gunfire in the Galliagh area of the city.  A spokesman for the PSNI stated that they had received a report of the shots between midnight and 1am on.

Elsewhere, stones were thrown at cars in Shantallow and a fence was set alight in Glendale Park. Serious damage was also caused to a bus near the Slievemore Roundabout.

A young female suffered a broken after being hit with debris from a burning car on Monday night. The 19-year-old is due to for surgery today.

Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster, the girl’s mother said that “She was just out walking with her friends. She took a phone call and all of a sudden thought her jaw was locked.”

The mother added that the teenager is “in a lot of pain but doing ok”.

We are investigating a number of incidents overnight, including a report of shots fired in Galliagh. pic.twitter.com/t8uDJXL8ws

— Police Derry City and Strabane (@PSNIDCSDistrict) August 9, 2023

Nigel Goddard, Chief Superintendent for the area, described the unrest as “serious and sinister incidents”.

“For a second night, we saw damage caused to property and the community. These are all serious and sinister incidents, which serve only to cause fear and distress in the community, and trauma to the people directly impacted,” he added.

It is believed that these outbursts are a result of bonfire material being removed. The tradition is for fires to be lit in nationalist areas of the city each August 15.

The occasion marks the August anniversary of the introduction of internment without trial during the Troubles as well as with Catholic Feast of the Assumption.