Residents seek help after attack

The petrol bomb caused scorch damage to the house

Protestant residents of the Fountain estate in Londonderry have called for fire blankets and extinguishers after a weekend petrol bombing.

Six petrol bombs were thrown at the house early on Sunday. The man whose house was attacked has said his family could have been killed.

Police, who are treating the attack as sectarian, said they would give safety advice along with the Fire Brigade.

Sinn Fein Derry mayor Lynn Fleming has demanded an end to such attacks.

"We would call on anybody engaged in those activities to stop immediately," she said.

A nine-week-old baby boy and four other children escaped injury in the attack.

Alex McClements said his whole family could have been wiped out.

Alex McClements said his family could have been killed

"Someone out there knows who it was who done this," Mr McClements said.

"These houses here in the Fountain's getting it day in, day out."

He said his house would have burned down had the fire not been put out by his brother-in-law who lives next door.

Danger

Chief Superintendent Richard Russell said the attack and others like it could have had serious consequences.

"Up until now there haven't been many serious injuries, but it's only a matter of time. So it has to stop," he said.

Altogether 30 petrol bombs were thrown in the city during overnight trouble on Saturday/Sunday. Three people arrested in connection with the incidents have since been released.

Meanwhile, 18 petrol bombs were also thrown at police officers on the nationalist Nailors Row area beside the Fountain estate.

One struck an old people's home but it was not damaged.