Two PSNI officers hurt by mob at Belfast bonfire

Two PSNI officers were injured and one had his gun and radio stolen when they were attacked by a crowd in east Belfast last night…

Two PSNI officers were injured and one had his gun and radio stolen when they were attacked by a crowd in east Belfast last night.

The attack happened in the Protestant Woodstock Link area in the east of the city. The officers were flagged down at around 3.30am to help a man who was being beaten at the scene of a twelfth of July bonfire.

The officers were then set upon by the crowd who overwhelmed the men. Police spokeswoman said extra resources were called in and order was restored.

Elsewhere, an Orange arch was destroyed by vandals who attacked a hall in Newcastle at around 3.15am. The arch was destroyed and the hall sustained scorch damage.

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Elsewhere, 30 homes were evacuated after a bonfire ruptured a gas pipeline in east Belfast.

The area around on the Creggan Road, in the east of the city, was cordoned off and eight fire engines attended the scene. A commercial premises was destroyed in the incident.