loyalists attacking themselves and the PSNI
Attacks after ‘loyalist fall-out’
Four separate paramilitary-style assaults in Carrickfergus may have been the result of a fall-out between loyalist factions, it is believed.
The men were attacked with bricks, hammers and meat cleavers on the Woodburn and Castlemara estates at about 2200 BST on Sunday.
Police were attacked by a crowd of up to 50 people during follow-up searches.
At one point a crossbow bolt fired at an officer struck a police Land Rover. No-one was injured.
Carrickfergus Alliance councillor Sean Neeson said the attack on the police was “outrageous”.
“A crossbow is a lethal weapon and this attack should be considered as attempted murder,” he said.
“The community in Carrick as a whole are right behind the police in enforcing the law.”
None of the men who were assaulted has made a complaint to police. Their conditions are not known.
Police have appealed for anyone with information concerning the attacks to contact them.
