People 'living in fear' after cars attacked

A DUP councillor has said people are living in fear after a spate of attacks on cars in the Waterside area of Londonderry on Sunday night.

At least three cars had their windows smashed in the Irish Street and Top of Hill areas.

The police said the attacks on two cars in Irish Street were carried out by young people armed with sticks and some of whom were masked.

DUP councillor Niree McMorris said: "Night after night, we are seeing youths coming into the area and attacking property."

"It was reported shortly before 23:50 GMT a number of youths were in the area, running along Irish Street, some armed with sticks," police said.

"They ran off in the direction of Anderson Crescent when confronted by residents."

The police have appealed for anyone with information or relevant footage to come forward.

McMorris said people on both sides of the community were being affected by sectarian attacks.

"Recently, we saw a 12-year-old attack, and a week before that, there was a 14-year-old attacked as well," McMorris said.

"I was on the ground last night and saw these youths videoing themselves attacking cars with sticks and making serious threats.

"People in Irish Street are living in fear, as are those in Top of the Hill," McMorris said.

She said someone would be seriously injured if the attacks do not stop.

"This isn't just affecting one community, it's affecting a number of communities and we are so fed up with this here," she said.

"This has been going on for months near the interface areas.

"This is a well-settled area, with a number of elderly people living here, and we should not have to be living in fear because of these relentless attacks."

Speaking to BBC News NI, the owner of one of the damaged cars, who did not wish to be identified, said it had caused significant stress to him and his family.

"We were actually out at the time, but a neighbour called and said a number of cars had been attacked and their windows had been smashed, so we came back to check the damage," the man said.

"Particularly over the last number of weeks, we have seen fireworks being thrown, a lot of shouting and roaring and petrol bombs a couple of weeks ago.

"We are just worried about how far it will go."

The man said he was particularly concerned for his wife and teenage children, when he is out working in the evening.

"They are only 14 and 15, so this kind of thing affects them as well."