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Armed men 'seen at disturbances' Armed men 'seen at disturbances'
(38 minutes later)
Armed and masked gunmen have reportedly been seen in Lurgan, County Armagh, on a second night of trouble in the town.Armed and masked gunmen have reportedly been seen in Lurgan, County Armagh, on a second night of trouble in the town.
Two vans were hijacked and then set alight at a railway crossing at Lake Street. About 30 youths were involved in the disturbances. About 30 youths were involved in the disturbances during which two vans were hijacked and set alight at a railway crossing at Lake Street.
Disturbances in the town followed the sentencing of three local men on Thursday over a dissident republican mortar bomb plot to murder police. The trouble followed the sentencing of three local men on Thursday over a dissident republican mortar bomb plot to murder police.
The railway line between Portadown and Lisburn was closed for a second night. The railway line remains closed between Portadown and Lisburn.
Motorists were advised to avoid parts of Lurgan and Craigavon for a time on Friday night. Translink has advised that train passengers travelling on the cross border Enterprise service to Dublin will be bussed between Belfast and Newry.
Sinn Fein councillor Johnny McGibbon said the rioters had again failed in their attempts to create widespread disruption. Those passengers already faced delays to their journeys as there is still a bus substitution in place between Drogheda and Dublin due to a bridge collapse at Malahide last month.
However, Sinn Fein councillor Johnny McGibbon said the rioters had again failed in their attempts to create widespread disruption.
"The majority of young republicans are not interested in this type of activity and have stayed away," he said."The majority of young republicans are not interested in this type of activity and have stayed away," he said.
"At this point the PSNI have not been dragged into confrontation in the area, and this is the sensible approach.""At this point the PSNI have not been dragged into confrontation in the area, and this is the sensible approach."
On Thursday night, at least five vehicles were hijacked during a night of violence.
Replica gunReplica gun
Two vans were set alight and abandoned on the nearby railway track. On Thursday night, at least five vehicles were hijacked during a night of violence, two of which were also set alight and abandoned on the nearby railway track.
Police carrying out a follow-up search at a property in the Kilwilkee area of the town on Friday recovered a replica gun.Police carrying out a follow-up search at a property in the Kilwilkee area of the town on Friday recovered a replica gun.
Chief Inspector Jason Murphy said police had received numerous reports of armed men in the area on Thursday night.Chief Inspector Jason Murphy said police had received numerous reports of armed men in the area on Thursday night.
"While there are no reports of any shots being fired, this is not acceptable behaviour for our streets and robust action will be taken," he said."While there are no reports of any shots being fired, this is not acceptable behaviour for our streets and robust action will be taken," he said.
He said there were no reports of petrol bombs being thrown and no-one was injured.He said there were no reports of petrol bombs being thrown and no-one was injured.
"This was clearly an attempt to draw my officers into the situation to escalate the violence and to cause serious disruption or injury," he added."This was clearly an attempt to draw my officers into the situation to escalate the violence and to cause serious disruption or injury," he added.