A full examination of the site where a British military helicopter crashed injuring six members of the security forces began at first light this morning.
Four PSNI officers and two British soldiers were taken to hospital after the Lynx helicopter went down into a field close to the border village of Crossmaglen in South Armagh.
The area is sealed off and investigators were set to begin their work this morning, with a full military inquiry to follow.
A crashed British army Lynx helicopter lies in a field in Crossmaglen, South Armagh. Photograph: PA
Ambulance crews removing the casualties from the scene came under attack from youths throwing stones, fireworks and snowballs, the Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed. Similar attacks were made on police officers on the ground. There were no reports of casualties.
There were seven members of the security forces in the helicopter — one member of the flight crew escaped unhurt. A PSNI spokesman said a number of those on the helicopter had suffered serious injuries. However it was believed none of the injuries would prove life-threatening.
Three of the police officers taken to hospital following the crash were released after treatment, the PSNI said. However, the fourth was detained in hospital having suffered a serious back injury. The two military air crew members taken to hospital also remain there. The extent of their injuries were still not known.
The PSNI spokesman said there was nothing to suggest the cause of the crash was paramilitary related. It was confirmed four of the injured were taken to the Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry and two to the Craigavon Area Hospital — one by helicopter.
Newry & Armagh Assembly member Danny Kennedy, deputy leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, branded the actions of those responsible for the attacks on emergency services staff as "despicable" and called on Sinn Fein representatives to exercise community responsibility in the face of such incidents.
Mr Kennedy said: "Youths in the area fired stones and threw fireworks at a crew of the emergency services who were attending the scene and also attacked the security personnel in the area with similar missiles as they were attempting to deal with the situation."
Northern Ireland was hit by high winds and driving snow for much of the day yesterday as temperatures plunged suddenly. The helicopter was left lying on its side in a snow-covered field with its main rotor blades buckled and its tail broken off.
Local Sinn Fein MP Conor Murphy said the helicopter had come down close to the densely populated Lismore Park area. Mr Murphy, MP for Newry & Armagh, said while details were uncertain it was clear that a serious incident had occurred.
"It is apparent that there may have been loss of life or serious injury, although early indications suggest that no civilians have been injured," he said. The British army is due to pull out of the joint security base in Crossmaglen at the end of the month as part of the peace process normalisation. However those working in the base in the village square are still currently airlifted in and out to carry out their duties.
The SDLP's Newry and Armagh Assembly member Dominic Bradley said he had in the past raised his concerns about the dangers of helicopter flights in and out of the military base in Crossmaglen. He said: "These flights pose a threat to the safety of local people as well as to the police and Army."
Mr Bradley added: "It is now safe for the police to travel by car in the area. Helicopter flights present a much greater risk to the public.
"On the law of averages, an accident was bound to happen. Rather than wait until this happens, the British government should take this opportunity to end these flights forthwith."