UVF members petrol-bombed policewoman in car, McGuinness tells BBC

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

The people orchestrating the violent street protests are 'fascists' opposed to the Peace Process, including elements of the UVF – 'led by drug pushers in east Belfast' – and the BNP.

A UVF unit in east Belfast was responsible for the petrol bomb attack on a police car that could have killed a woman PSNI officer guarding Alliance MLA Naomi Long’s office before Christmas, Martin McGuinness told the BBC today.

Several men smashed the back window of the police car and lobbed a petrol-bomb through the broken glass as the policewoman sat inside at 7:35pm on Monday 10 December. She scrambled to safety, suffering from shock but relatively unhurt.

The PSNI are treating it as attempted murder.

The police guard was placed on Naomi Long’s office after the Assembly member had received death threats from unionists.

During his visit to meet families in the Short Strand today (Wednesday), Martin McGuinness said that people orchestrating the violent Union flag street protests are “fascists” opposed to the Peace Process, including elements of the UVF – “led by drug pushers in east Belfast” – the British National Party and like-minded racist and right-wing gangs.

McGuinness was talking to Stephen Nolan on BBC Radio Ulster after talks earlier this week with the PSNI about how nationalist residents are feeling let down by the PSNI who left them unprotected against organised attacks by stone-throwing mobs on Monday night.

Stephen Nolan contrasted the apparent lack of urgency by the PSNI in rounding up rioters with the disorder in Tottenham, north London, the BBC man had covered less than 18 months ago.

“To be fair to [PSNI Chief Constable] Matt Baggott,” Martin McGuinness said, “he has publicly apologised to the people of the Short Strand; I hope he doesn’t have to apologise twice.”

Asked about attacks on unionist homes, the Sinn Féin minister repeated his public and “unreserved” condemnation of attacks on anyone’s house, “no matter who they are or what their politics or religion is”.

He said that politicians of all parties should stand together against the mob violence.