Thomas O’Donnell was driving along the Crescent Link with his two year-old grand-daughter when his car was attacked by a group of stonethrowers in what he claimed was a sectarian attack. It is the latest in a series of attacks on taxis from cityside firms in the Waterside in recent weeks and Mr O’Donnell warned that someone “would be killed” if attacks on taxis continue.

Neither Mr O’Donnell nor his grand-daughter were injured in the attack but he says both were left “badly shaken”.

“I was driving along the Crescent Link just before 8pm on Saturday and was coming up to one of the new roundabouts when I saw a young guy pressing the button at the traffic lights. Behind him I could see a group of ten to twelve other lads aged about 14 or 15 years-old. I’m always a bit wary driving in that area because a few weeks ago someone threw a skateboard at my car.” he said.

The taxi driver said one of the rocks thrown at his car passed over the head of his two year-old granddaughter. “The lights changed and I stopped and they started pelting the car. A big rock came through the rear passenger window and passed over my grand-daughter. Luckily it did not hit her but she was showered with glass. The rock ricocheted off the back window and landed on the parcel tray.

“They also threw other stones and rocks and tried to put an iron bar through the car’s alloy wheels. I was worried about my grand-daughter so I drove on but they still kept throwing things. I drove on down the road to the grounds of Gransha and called the police,” he said.

Mr O’Donnell said many taxi driver from the cityside are wary about taking fares to certain areas of the Waterside. “I have to make a living and I wouldn’t like to say to anyone that I won’t take them to the Waterside but I would be nervous going to certain areas. The attacks are happening in the same area and usually at traffic lights. If they installed CCTV at traffic lights it would bring an end to the attacks,” he said.

The attack has been condemned by Foyle MLA Willie Hay who said he has met with the police to discuss the attacks. "There have been countless attacks on taxis in the Waterside and I have met with the police on a number of occasions to try and see what might be done. Not only could this type of attack lead to serious injury or a fatality, there are worries that this could spark revenge-type attacks on drivers from Waterside companies on the west bank.

"Regardless of what company this driver worked for, taxi driving is a job of work and they provide a valuable service. We need to get together and send out the message that these types of attacks are unacceptable,” he said.

A PSNI spokesperson said they had not yet established a motive for the attack and are appealing for information.