Pregnant woman's car attacked

The pregnant woman is suffering from shock

A pregnant woman has been left severely shocked after her car was struck during an attack on the police in Belfast.

The woman was driving on the Norfolk Road, in the Turf Lodge area of the city, at about 1830 GMT on Friday, when her vehicle was attacked with stones and bottles.

The police had been in the area dealing with a collision involving a stolen vehicle at the time.

The woman's car windscreen was smashed in the attack. She was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital where she was said to be shocked but otherwise uninjured.

Police have appealed for community representatives to use their influence to prevent such attacks.

"Innocent motorists and passers-by could have sustained serious injury," said a police spokeswoman.

'Constant danger'

The police have appealed for any witnesses to come forward.

In a separate stone-throwing incident, firefighters have come under attack as they responded to a call, which turned out to be a hoax, in County Down.

Bricks were thrown at a fire engine smashing the window, but no-one was hurt during the attack at the Model Farm estate in Downpatrick on Friday night.

SDLP assembly member Margaret Ritchie condemned the incident.

"These men from our community put themselves in constant danger in order to save the lives and property of us all," she said.

"The fire appliance was subsequently off the road for three hours which left our district vulnerable to any incidents that may have occurred. Simply, lives were put at risk."

She urged anyone with information to contact the police.