PSNI sets up Major Incident Public Portal after days of violent disorder in Belfast

PSNI T/Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones has condemned the “horrendous scenes” witnessed on the streets of Belfast in recent days. and is urging anyone with information to share it through the portal.

“There’s been violence, racist assaults, damage to property and racist slurs unashamedly uttered on our streets,” she said.

“Last night also saw a man in his 50s brutally attacked by a mob. Witnesses reported seeing his attackers stamp on his head as other decent members of the public attempted to shield him from further attack. His condition is described as serious and we are treating his attack as a hate crime.

“This is not who we are as a society and the majority of our citizens are rightly appalled by this behaviour.

“We have a significant dedicated team working at pace to bring those responsible for this disorder to justice and to engage with those communities affected.

“Police trained in public order have a range of tactical options at their disposal in order to keep the public and themselves safe, which includes the use of both the water cannon and Attenuating Energy Projectiles rounds – as the situation requires or as is deemed appropriate. Our water cannon capability is available for deployment if required.”

Ms Jones added: “I have no doubt there is a paramilitary element to this but I am not in a position to say that this is the main organiser or orchestrator of these events. However, we do keep an open mind to this and this will be part of our investigatory strategy.”

PSNI officers arrested six people and dealt with a number of race-related hate crimes, hate incidents and disorder across Belfast last on Tuesday night (August 6).

Ms Jones said: “For a third night, our officers dealt with incidents such as assaults, criminal damage and arson in a challenging environment right across the city.

“We received a report at around 6.10pm that a shop on the Falls Road had eggs thrown at it and that staff inside were being racially abused by a group of young people.

“A 15-year-old boy was assaulted and while he received minor facial injuries, I have no doubt this was a terrifying incident for the young victim. When police attended, a large group from the local community were outside to diffuse the situation. A 14-year-old boy was cautioned for offences such as common assault, disorderly behaviour and criminal damage. We will review the evidence gathered and follow this up in the coming days.

“Following a report of a group of young people wearing masks in the Shankill area, officers attended and arrested three boys, two aged 16 and one aged 14, on suspicion of riotous behaviour. They remain in police custody at this time.

“We also dealt with a report of a hijacking in the Fingal Street area of west Belfast at around 8.45pm, followed by a report that a car was deliberately driven at a business in the Woodvale Road area, causing damage to the shutters. The suspects made off from the scene.”

Ms Jones said officers also dealt with a number of reports of criminal damage to homes and cars in the Enfield Street, Woodvale Road and Rathlin Street.

Three men, aged 26, 28 and 41 years, were arrested in connection to the Rathlin Street report on suspicion of offences including criminal damage and they remain in custody at this time.

“There were also reports of bins set on fire in the Newtownards Road area of east Belfast, which caused some traffic disruption for a period of time as the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service dealt with the fire,” she said.

“The scenes we have been seeing across Belfast over the last few days have been a disgrace and have no place in Northern Ireland.

“We continue to engage with the groups affected by this criminality and hope these arrests show the community that we are taking action. Our Public Order Enquiry Team will continue to review footage to attempt to identify those involved, as well as those organising and orchestrating this disorder. As with any investigative process, the Police Service will follow the evidence and present it to the Public Prosecution Service.

“I am appealing to the public directly, do not let these criminals hide in your community. Anyone with any information which can help identify any of these individuals should contact police.”

Ms Jones said she is appealing for calm over the coming days and has thanked all  officers and staff who have been involved in the policing response to this recent disorder on the streets of Belfast.

“I would especially pay tribute to those on the front line, who display unwavering commitment to keeping communities safe in the face of despicable violence levelled towards them,” she said.

Justice Minister Naomi Long said she “utterly condemned” the violence seen on the streets of Belfast.

“These demonstrations were orchestrated by those motivated by a desire to create fear and division,” she said. “They have no regard for human life and are focused on spreading misinformation and disinformation to alienate some sections of our community. This type of disorder needs to be highlighted for what it is – fearmongering and intimidation of the highest level.

“There can be no place in our community for hate: for xenophobia, racism and Islamophobia. Neither can there be any place for such intimidation and intolerance. My thoughts are with all those impacted by this disorder; those whose property was damaged, businesses attacked and who were intimidated, threatened or fearful as a result.

“I particularly commend the PSNI and all those frontline responders and send my best wishes to the officers who were injured and I hope they make a speedy recovery.”