A police patrol going to the assistance of a man being beaten up by a crowd on New Lodge Road in north Belfast came under attack early on Sunday.
The crowd at first dispersed, enabling police to give first aid to the unconscious man, but soon returned and attacked the officers who had to radio for back-up.
One officer received a head injury. The victim of the assault is in a serious condition in intensive care.
Meanwhile in Derry, RUC officers came under attack in the city centre when they tried to arrest a man early yesterday. A crowd of about 40 people threw stones and bottles and punched and kicked the officers. They dug up part of the road to use as missiles.
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Two officers were injured and a police car windscreen was smashed.