FRESH TROUBLE broke out in Lurgan, Co Armagh, last night as police mounted a special operation at 7pm to counter dissident republican activity.
Police were expecting that dissidents would attempt a special attack designed to coincide with the arrival of the new PSNI chief constable, Matt Baggot, on Tuesday.
The operation against such dissidents began at 7pm yesterday. Earlier, a replica weapon was found during a police search. The discovery was made as PSNI officers conducted searches in the Kilwilkie area of the town after rioting on Thursday night, which saw the hijacking and burning of vehicles, two of which were placed on the Belfast-Dublin railway.
Police are also investigating reports that armed and masked men were seen about the time of the trouble.
The violence was “an absolute disgrace,” the PSNI said.
The trouble is being linked to the jailing of three men in connection with a dissident republican plot to attack police officers.
The three men, Damien McKenna (26), Deans Walk; Gary Toman (24), Drumnahoe Avenue; and Sean McConville (23), Kilwilkie Road, were each sentenced to 15 years in jail for their involvement in a bomb plot.
Chief Insp Jason Murphy said: “While there are no reports of any shots being fired, this is not acceptable behaviour for our streets and robust action will be taken.
“This was clearly an attempt to draw my officers into the situation to escalate the violence and to cause serious disruption or injury.”
He added: “The actions of these criminals will not deter my officers from providing a service to the people of Lurgan.
“We have launched an investigation into [the] disorder and will be seeking to gather all the evidence we can to bring those involved to justice. Police received numerous reports of armed gunmen in the area . . . and while there are no reports of any shots being fired, this is not acceptable behaviour for our streets and robust action will be taken.”
The trouble was widely condemned by the main parties.
SDLP Assembly member Dolores Kelly said the violence was anticipated and organised and that there had been “stockpiling of petrol”.
The police were “well-prepared for all eventualities”.
Sinn Féin’s John O’Dowd told the BBC: “There was an attempt by six to a dozen people to bring out large numbers of people on to the streets, which didn’t work.”