Polling stations attacked

More than 50 petrol bombs have been thrown and police attacked during disturbances near polling stations in Londonderry.

Officers were attacked at five locations as they tried to collect ballot boxes, and electoral officials had to be escorted out of two centres in the city.

Windows were smashed at the front of Shantallow Community Centre by up to 75 youths throwing rocks and other objects.

That incident happened at about 2220 GMT on Wednesday as the electoral official in charge of the polling station left under police escort with the boxes.

Police vehicles being driven away from the scene were hit by at least two petrol bombs.

Stones and petrol bombs were also thrown at four other polling stations in the city - Galliagh, Hazelbank, Creggan and Carnhill.

This was orchestrated despite the best efforts of some of the community leaders to prevent it Inspector Rod Flood PSNI

Electoral officials at St Joseph's Youth Club in the Galliagh area had to be escorted out by the police.

The fire service was called out to a polling station in the Creggan area after the roof of a house caught fire.

Inspector Rod Flood of the PSNI said those responsible for the attacks were thugs.

"Their actions could have resulted in fatal consequences," he said.

"This was orchestrated despite the best efforts of some of the community leaders to prevent it."

Security cameras

Deputy returning officer for Foyle Patricia Murphy said there had been trouble in the area for several hours.

"There was some paint bombs and petrol bombs thrown at two of the polling stations in the Shantallow area," she said.

"One of our polling stations had one of their windows broken.

"Unfortunately, it was in the room where we had a presiding officer and a poll clerk. We moved them to another room and we continued on as usual, so it didn't actually interfere with the process."

During the disturbances, several police vehicles were damaged. There were no reports of any injuries.

No-one was arrested. The police said they were examining closed circuit television pictures of the incidents.

Earlier in west Belfast, Army technical officers dealt with a suspicious object found near a polling station.

The area close to St Catherine's Primary School on the Falls Road was cordoned off for about one hour.