POLICE came under attack during a fourth night of rioting after the deaths of two teenagers whose stolen car crashed in a high-speed chase.

Teenagers pelted officers with petrol bombs, rocks, fireworks and bottles as riot police advanced on a crowd of about 100 people on the sprawling housing estate of Macquarie Fields in the southwestern suburbs of Sydney.

Authorities have been stunned by the level of antagonism from adults in the area who have also taken to the streets to voice their criticism of the police. Some stood in their gardens and on balconies, encouraging the young rioters to take on the police.

By last night 19 people had been arrested as police squads responded to more rioting in the area, which is home to a diverse mix of migrant families and a small number of Aborigines.

One officer suffered a broken hand and others received minor injuries as they clashed with youths. Eight men and one youth will appear in court today charged with rioting.

The violence came after community anger over the deaths of Matt Robertson, 19, and his 16-year-old friend, Dyllan Rayward, when the stolen car that they were in ploughed into a tree as it was being chased by police on Friday night. A third youth, who was driving, survived the crash and fled. He has not been found.

Many of those living in the close-knit community accuse the police of causing the deaths, and claim that they should have ended the pursuit before the stolen car reached speeds of 100mph.

John Hennessey, the former deputy mayor of Campbelltown council, which includes Macquarie Fields, said police regularly chased teenagers driving stolen cars and the policy was damaging relations between police and young people.

Police chiefs defended their actions and rejected suggestions that their presence on the streets was inflaming an already highly charged atmosphere. Bob Carr, the New South Wales Premier, said that the police would arrest those responsible for the trouble. “I feel sorry for the police officers who got involved after what appears to have been a disgraceful physical attack on them,” he said.

Police Commissioner Ken Moroney said that he was shocked by the level of antipolice sentiment in Macquarie Fields, where slogans declaring “Cops kill kids” and “We will kill you dogs” were daubed on walls.

“I have been a police officer for 40 years and never seen anything like this,” he said.

The riots were Sydney’s worst since last year’s trouble in inner-city Redfern, after the death of a young Aboriginal cyclist who was known to police. Since then, some Aboriginal families have been moved to council estates in the Macquarie Fields area.

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