A fire engine was attacked by stone throwers near Ormeau Avenue in the city centre on Thursday evening.

It is thought they set a car on fire and waited for the firefighters to arrive.

The windscreen of the fire engine was broken putting the vehicle out of service for several hours.

The risk to the general public is that they are without their proper fire cover for many hours at a time

Michael Neeson Station officer

Station officer Michael Neeson said it was the public that was suffering.

"Unfortunately this is becoming a weekly, if not nightly, occurrence at stations throughout Belfast," he said.

"There's obvious damage occurring to the fire appliances.

"It means that the risk to the general public is that they are without their proper fire cover for many hours at a time."

Earlier on Thursday, a bus driver was attacked as he prepared to stop his bus at Woodstock Link in the east of the city.

A pellet or ball-bearing was fired through the window hitting him on the head and injuring his eye.

Eight passengers were on the bus at the time and Ciaran Rogan of Translink said such attacks are placing lives at risk.

"If something like this happens and the driver loses control of the vehicle, at peak hour in a very busy pedestrian area, there could be untold damage and multiple fatalities," said Mr Rogan.

"People just have to be aware and think through what the consequences are."