A police safety camera van was attacked and badly damaged in Coagh, County Tyrone, on Monday afternoon, June 22, prompting an appeal for witnesses and information.

The Road Safety Partnership van was stationed on Ballinderry Bridge Road when a man approached at around 2.50pm. He threw pieces of masonry at the vehicle, smashing several windows and shouting abuse, before leaving the scene.

The front and passenger side windows were broken, and the camera window and back door were cracked and dented. The driver was not physically injured but police described the incident as a frightening ordeal that lasted several minutes. The van has been taken off the road for repairs.

Mid-Ulster Chief Inspector Trevor Campbell condemned the attack, saying it was unacceptable for a driver to be subjected to such fear while doing their job. He stressed that safety camera deployments, both fixed and mobile, are intended to slow traffic and keep roads safer.

Chief Inspector Campbell noted that speeding is one of the main causes of collisions, and that the vans are placed in areas with a record of crashes or where communities have requested enforcement. He said reducing speed is one of the most important steps road users can take to prevent serious accidents.

Police are asking anyone who witnessed the incident, has dashcam or other footage, or has information about the suspect to contact them on 101, quoting reference number 1070 of 22/06/26. Reports can also be made online or anonymously through Crimestoppers.