![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2.58963523.jpg\")
A total of 27 police officers have been injured in unrest in Northern Ireland as political leaders call for calm over the Easter weekend.<\/p>\nA total of 27 police officers have been injured in unrest in Northern Ireland as political leaders call for calm over the Easter weekend.<\/p>\n
The PSNI said 15 officers were injured in Belfast and 12 officers were hurt in Derry during riots in both cities on Friday evening.<\/p>\n
Eight people have been arrested.<\/p>\n
Derry City and Strabane Area Commander Chief Superintendent Darrin Jones said police received reports on Friday night of youths gathering in the areas of Nelson Drive and Tullyally in the city.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn their arrival, they came under sustained attack from a large group of youths and young adults throwing masonry, bottles, petrol bombs and fireworks,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a result 12 officers sustained injuries including head, leg and foot wounds.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Jones also said a care home was damaged in the Nelson Drive area during the trouble causing \u201cuntold fear and distress\u201d to residents.<\/p>\n
He said it was \u201ctotally unacceptable\u201d that Friday was the fifth successive night of disturbances in the unionist Waterside area of the city.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is vital that we all send out a message to those responsible that such behavior will not be tolerated,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe people of Derry\/Londonderry deserve to feel safe within their own homes and be able to walk the streets without fear.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would ask that anyone who has any influence in communities \u2013 whether parents, guardians, community or elected representatives \u2013 please, use that influence to ensure young people do not get caught up in criminality and that they are kept safe and away from harm.\u201d<\/p>\n
In Belfast, two boys, aged 13 and 14, are among eight people arrested in connection with riots in a loyalist area of Belfast.<\/p>\n
Police said 15 officers were injured on Friday night after being targeted by a crowd of mainly young people in Sandy Row, throwing stones, fireworks, flares, manhole covers and petrol bombs.<\/p>\n
Belfast District Commander, Chief Superintendent Simon Walls, said \u201ca small local protest quickly developed into an attack on police officers\u201d and that at points there were up to 300 people of all ages on the streets.<\/p>\n
He called for calm, urging anyone with influence in the loyalist community to dissuade young people from causing violence and harm.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cI\u2019m not going to enter into dialogue about political commentary.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I would ask is that people with influence, people in local communities, would dissuade young people, or anyone else, intent on causing violence or intent on harming police officers.\u201d<\/p>\n
He described it as a \u201creal tragedy\u201d that children as young as 13 and 14 were among those arrested.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s a tragedy that any child in Northern Ireland is sitting in a custody suite this morning and facing criminal investigation, possibility of being charged and possibility of facing a criminal conviction,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt shouldn\u2019t happen. And that\u2019s why I\u2019m very keen that people with influence try to ask anyone intent on violence to please step back. It\u2019s not the way to resolve tensions or arguments.\u201d<\/p>\n