Two police officers injured in Belfast

Police were attacked with bricks and other missiles in west Belfast when they responded to a fire at a petrol station late on…

Police were attacked with bricks and other missiles in west Belfast when they responded to a fire at a petrol station late on Saturday night and into Sunday morning.

Two police officers were injured when about 150 youths began attacking them after a gas cylinder was deliberately set alight at a petrol station.

A male officer received head injuries and a female officer's leg was injured during the disturbance. Minor damage was also caused to five police Land Rovers.

The PSNI confirmed one man and a male juvenile were arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour and disorderly behaviour. A spokeswoman confirmed that officers who responded to the arson attack were targeted with missiles.

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The Fire Service extinguished the blaze on the Andersonstown Road shortly after the alarm was raised about 10pm on Saturday.

In another incident, a man was arrested yesterday by detectives investigating a stabbing in north Belfast.

The victim, in his early 30s, underwent surgery following the attack and is in a serious condition in hospital.

Police confirmed a man had been detained in connection with the incident in Eskdale Gardens, Ardoyne.

The victim answered his door shortly before 3am on Saturday and was confronted by two men. He was then beaten with hurley sticks before being dragged down his driveway and stabbed.

On Saturday, an elderly couple escaped serious injury after fireworks were pushed through their letter-box. A petrol bomb, fireworks and other missiles were thrown at officers who responded to the incident in Gransha Park in the Ballymurphy area of west Belfast.

The pensioners suffered smoke inhalation during the attack and were in shock.

Insp Jeremy Lindsay said: "This was a very frightening and distressing incident for the elderly victims which had potentially life-threatening consequences."

A police spokeswoman said the couple's home was filled with smoke after two fireworks landed in their hallway shortly before 8.30pm yesterday.

In Co Tyrone, detectives are investigating an arson attack on a flat. The window of the ground-floor property on Park Road, Strabane, was smashed and a flammable liquid was poured into the living room before it was set alight.

Police said the property was unoccupied when the blaze was started at about 9.30pm.

Scorch and smoke damage was caused to the living room, while smoke damage was also caused to the rest of the one-bedroom property.

A PSNI spokeswoman said: "Scenes of crimes officers attended the scene and a number of items have been removed for further examination."

Detectives are keeping an open mind as to the motive for the attack and have appealed for witnesses to come forward.