THE RUC has confirmed that a Russianmade RPG7 rocket was used in an attack on a police patrol in north Belfast on Thursday night. The rocket missed the RUC LandRover and exploded through the wall of toilets in a nearby primary school. No one was injured.
This is the first time an RPG7 has been used in Northern Ireland since the IRA ceasefire began in August 1994. Since the ceasefire ended, homemade rockets have been used by the IRA.
Police believe republicans were behind the attack, which occurred at 11.40 p.m. at the junction of Limestone Road and Halliday's Road. A Vauxhall car thought to have been used in the attack was found burned out 10 minutes later in the New Lodge area.
Belfast Lord Mayor Alban Maginness condemned the attack, saying people should realise "members of the security forces are human beings with wives and families."
He said the paramilitaries responsible should realise they were not carrying out anything in the name of the people of the area.