POLICE in Derry were attacked with petrol bombs on Thursday night as the spate of violence and chaos in the city continued into its third night.
It's understood that officers were called in to investigate a 'suspicious device' - which turned out to be a hoax - when they were set upon by a gang of youths, who launched petrol and paint bombs at them.
In another incident, a recovery truck was hijacked in the vicinity of the Galliagh Roundabout, where the driver and his passenger were stopped by three men on the road, before one of them poured fuel inside the vehicle covering the driver.
Both men inside the vehicle managed to escape in what the PSNI described as a "terrifying ordeal" and got to safety before the truck was set alight.
Emma Bond, Derry and Strabane District Commander chief superintendent, said: "This has been the third night of disorder in our city at the hands of cowards determined to cause disruption in our communities.
"It is unacceptable and I am very disappointed people made a deliberate decision to go out onto the streets and cause trouble.
"The world's media was focused on the city as John Hume was laid to rest. The scenes in our communities last night are not representative of this city," she added.
A number of other hijacking attempts had been reported over the last few days, though as of yet, no arrests have been made.
