Riots erupt in Derry, Northern Ireland, one woman shot dead

BBC

A 29-year-old woman has been shot dead in Londonderry in what police are treating as a "terrorist incident".

Dissident Republicans are being blamed for the killing, which happened during rioting after police searches in Derry's Creggan area on Thursday night.

Petrol bombs were also thrown at police Land Rovers.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said the police were "treating the shooting as a terrorist incident" and a murder inquiry had been launched.

There are reports that the trouble broke out after police raids on houses in the Mulroy Park and Galliagh areas.

Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O'Neill said she was "shocked and saddened at the tragic news", adding: "I unreservedly condemn those responsible for killing this young woman."

DUP leader Arlene Foster tweeted: "Heartbreaking news. A senseless act. A family has been torn apart."

And Mark H Durkan, SDLP MLA for Foyle, tweeted: "Just leaving Creggan, heartbroken and angry at the senseless loss of a young life.

"Violence only creates victims, that's all it ever has done. The thoughts and prayers of our city are with the young woman's family and friends, may she rest in peace."

It's going to get worse.

@nintendoboy16: Is it too optimistic to hope it won't get worse?

@horgen: no that's pretty much all we can do. It's seems riots are becoming all to common.

Sad. And not surprised. One of my contacts has been to Derry Londonderry a couple months ago to see what's there. That place has some history to it. I don't know how deep we want to dive into the whole IRA/religion/police/UK border thing, but the country knows a tension that has been there for a long time, and results in bloodshed from time to time. Pronouncing a word the wrong way in the wrong place can get you shot there.

What worries me most is come Brexit, hard or soft, May or Corbyn, violence on the level of The Troubles is bound to restart again. Earlier in the year, there were two car bombs in both Derry/Londonderry and Belfast, and also in Belfast, a man was injured in a 'paramilitary style' shooting. The fact that these are happening so close to each other is alarming.

The peace in Northern Ireland has always been balancing on a knife edge ( The GFA ). And now that there's a threat to the GFA thanks to brexit, this is just going to be the start I'm afraid. This is what happens when you use gerrymandering and draw an arbitrary border carving up a country

I fear what will happen in the States in the future

By the way everyone, The Guardian released a couple vids on the victim, Lyra McKee. And oh god the comments...