Murder of woman in Northern Ireland rioting being treated as 'terror incident'

Woman, 29, killed after shots were fired and petrol bombs thrown amid rioting in Derry on Thursday night

Police guard a crime scene during unrest in the Creggan area of Londonderry, in Northern Ireland. AP

A woman, 29, was killed after shots were fired and petrol bombs thrown during rioting in Derry on Thursday night.

Police say they are treating it as a "terrorist incident".

Assistant chief constable Mark Hamilton, from the Northern Irish police, said a murder inquiry had been launched.

“Sadly I can confirm that following shots being fired tonight in Creggan, a 29-year-old woman has been killed," Mr Hamilton said.

Police had earlier appealed for calm after disturbances in the Creggan area of the Northern Ireland city, where officers had tweeted that shots were being fired and petrol bombs thrown.

There are reports that the trouble broke out after police raids on houses.