We have always been attacked over the years but now it seems that people are pre-planning these attacks

William Lynch

Fire Service District Commander William Lynch said it was only a matter of time before someone was seriously hurt.

Speaking on Monday he said: "It has come apparently now that there have been concerted attacks on the fire brigade and this is obviously very worrying.

"As the district commander I have a duty of care for my own personnel and I am very concerned for their health and safety.

"We have always been attacked over the years but now it seems that people are pre-planning these attacks."

The appeal comes just weeks after a similar appeal by the fire service in west Belfast.

At the end of June, fire crews attending a fire at a building site hut came under attack from stone-throwing youths and an engine was rammed in the mainly nationalist lower Falls area.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service has also recently expressed concern about a rising number of violent attacks on its crews in Derry.

In June ambulance crews in Derry were also threatened with violence by two masked men who accused them of calling the police to incidents.