An RUC man received serious leg injuries from a blast bomb thrown near the Holy Cross school in North Belfast today. The incident occurred as Loyalists demonstrated for a third successive day.
The RUC arrested three men in connection with the attack. Three other police officers were injured in the explosion, near to where dozens of children were being escorted to the school under security force protection.
One of the other officers was injured in the ear while two were treated in hospital for shrapnel injuries to the legs. A Loyalist paramilitary group, the Red Hand Defenders, said that it carried out the attack.
The attack forced pupils and parents to run towards the school, many of them screaming and crying. The Red Hand Defenders is a cover name that has been used by the Loyalist paramilitary UDA and LVF. One woman collapsed and was taken to hospital by ambulance.
The attack has brought widespread condemnation from political and community leaders. The Northern Secretary, John Reid, has cut short his summer holidays and is to return to the North.
There was also a security operation to escort the children and their parents on their way home from the school, although there were no major incidents this afternoon.
Violence again flared in the area last night. Petrol bombs and other missiles were thrown at police, and there were reports that shots were fired by suspected Loyalist gunmen. Two police officers were slightly injured as the security forces set up a barrier between Loyalist and Nationalist groups.
At least 41 RUC officers and two soldiers have been injured in the recent upsurge in violence. Four cars have been burnt out, 250 petrol bombs and 15 blast bombs have been thrown.
