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Northern Ireland: Laser pens among items used to attack police during Belfast rioting

During a second day of rioting in Belfast, “officers were attacked by petrol bombs, fireworks, masonry, laser pens, and by a whole range of weapons and missiles”, according to a spokesperson for the Police Service of Northern Ireland. There were no serious injuries to the seven officers involved, and all remained on duty during the July 13 2013 unrest. 32 officers were injured the previous day; a Member of Parliament was taken to the hospital after being struck by a brick.

From the Irish Independent and the Guardian

Northern Ireland: Retinal injury claimed in ambulance illumination

An ambulance driver said he suffered a retinal burn from a laser attack. On June 11 2011, John Corr was driving in Belfast, taking a patient to a hospital. A car pulled alongside and aimed a laser at the ambulance, hitting Corr in the eye. He was temporarily blinded, so his colleague took over the driving. Corr later went to a specialist eye clinic at Royal Victoria Hospital where he was told he had a burn to his retina.

Corr characterized the incident as an assault, and said there should be a specific law to protect ambulance staff. The perpetrator has not been found.

From the Belfast Telegraph