A petrol bomb attack on police officers in Londonderry has been labelled an “attempted murder.”

Police in Londonderry are treating a petrol bomb attack on a police officer as attempted murder.

As officers responded to a home fire in the Creggan neighbourhood of Glasgow shortly before 11:00 BST on Sunday, one of them was assaulted.

Police said he was able to deflect the petrol bomb, although he suffered a hand injury.

According to Det Insp Gareth Lavery, “we are treating this horrendous attack on our colleague as attempted murder.”

A vacant property at Cecilia’s Walk was on fire when policemen and other emergency services were assaulted by adolescents hurling stones, according to police.

Officers were attempting to secure the situation when the petrol bomb was hurled.

Because of the officer’s fast actions, according to PSNI Supt Clive Beatty, the repercussions might have been far more terrible.

He called what had occurred “inacceptable.”

“The idea of putting someone in harm’s way at work is absurd. If he hadn’t reacted so quickly, the implications may have been disastrous.”

As a result of the fire being contained before it could spread to neighbouring residences, Det Insp Lavery said police are examining it as an arson.

The investigation into the fire, the accompanying chaos, and the attack on the officer is now underway.

Anyone with knowledge is urged to come forward by police.