63 police officers injured in ‘week of shame' in Northern Ireland

South Wales Guardian

2 days ago

Disorder started in Ballymena on Monday after an alleged sexual assault of a girl in the Co Antrim town at the weekend, and continued throughout the week.
A number of homes were targeted, and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive has said about 50 households have received assistance across the week, and 14 families provided with emergency accommodation.
Political leaders called for calm during a meeting of the British Irish Council in Newcastle, Co Down, on Friday.
First Minister Michelle O'Neill said everyone is condemning the disorder and calling for it to stop.
'I think all our collective effect has to be continually on that message, and I repeat that message again today – what we have seen over the last four days has been devastation, has been horrific for those people targeted – this is women and children, these are families, at the brunt of racist, violent attacks, and it is wrong on every level,' she said.
'The whole of the Executive is united on that front.'
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly described a 'difficult time for Northern Ireland', with 'disgraceful scenes of violent disorder', and said her thoughts are with the residents of the areas affected.
Additional police officers from Scotland will support the Police Service of Northern Ireland after a mutual aid request.
Scottish First Minister John Swinney said it was an illustration of how co-operation between police forces is 'absolutely essential'.
'We have benefitted on other occasions from support from the PSNI in Scotland, so that availability of mutual aid is important as an asset to be called upon,' he said.
'But it also reinforces the point that we all have a shared interest in tackling outbreaks of racism and racist-based violence wherever they take place, and I am pleased that Police Scotland have been able to support the PSNI in demonstrating the resolve that all of us feel that we must tackle racist violence wherever it takes place.'
While disorder in Ballymena raged across Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights, it appeared to have abated on Thursday. However there was still disorder in Portadown.
There have also been incidents in other towns, including the burning of Larne Leisure Centre on Wednesday and an arson attack on a house in Coleraine in the early hours of Friday from which a man and woman, and four young children escaped.
It is being treated by police as arson with a racially motivated hate element.
Twenty-two police officers were injured in overnight disorder in Portadown after they came under sustained attack with heavy masonry, fireworks and beer kegs in the Co Armagh town on Thursday.
A woman in her 50s and a man in his 30s were arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour and other offences in connection with the disorder in Portadown.
There was also sporadic disorder elsewhere in Northern Ireland on Thursday night, following mainly peaceful protests, including in the Templemore Avenue area of east Belfast, where bricks were thrown through the windows of two houses in Avoniel Road in what police have called a racially motivated attack.
A small fire at the Manse Road roundabout in Newtownabbey was also reported, and anti-immigration hate graffiti is being investigated in Newtownards.
Meanwhile, a house fire in the Mount Street area of Coleraine which led to the evacuation of a family with three young children is being treated as deliberate and a racially motivated hate crime.
The Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, said that since violence erupted in Ballymena on Monday, 63 officers have been injured.
Federation chairman Liam Kelly said it has been 'a week of shame with appalling levels of unrest in towns and cities'.
'Burning people out of their homes, attacking a leisure centre, and the specific targeting of individuals and property fuelled by overt racism and prejudice, is totally deplorable,' he said.
'Yet again, our overstretched police officers have also been attacked with petrol bombs, bricks and fireworks as they sought to keep people safe and maintain law and order.
'They have held the line with great courage and professionalism and are owed a debt of gratitude by this community.
'They went to the aid of vulnerable people, have prevented further savage attacks and have undoubtedly saved lives.'
Mr Kelly called for an end to the violence.
'This has been a week of shame with hate-filled rioters turning our streets into battle zones, targeting people and property simply because of their perceived nationality or the colour of their skin,' he said.
'We will continue to police our society without fear or favour, and all persons, irrespective of their background, race, colour or creed, who are engaged in any criminality, should expect to be the subject of our criminal justice processes.
'We cannot have sections of our society blatantly disregarding the law and bringing their own twisted version of justice to bear.
'As we head into the weekend, I would once again appeal for calm. Bringing violence, fear and uncertainty to our streets is totally unacceptable and must stop.
'I would ask all parents to speak with their children, know where they are going in the evenings, and actively encourage them to be civically responsible.'
Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Jon Boutcher warned on Thursday that his officers would be coming after the 'bigots and racists' behind the disorder.
He also said that the young girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in Ballymena at the weekend had been 'further traumatised' by the rioting across the week.
In a statement on Friday, Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said police had come under sustained attack in Portadown.
'Officers deployed a variety of public order tactics to restore order to the town as quickly as possible,' he said.
'Twenty-two officers were injured and I am so grateful to them for their bravery and selfless dedication in protecting the community of Portadown from this criminality.
'We saw calm in Ballymena and I hope the powerful words of the family who asked for calm during this really difficult time were heard and continue to be heard over the coming days.'
He said that while two arrests have been made so far in terms of the disorder in Portadown, more will follow.
'I repeat, once more, our appeal for calm across Northern Ireland in the coming days,' he said.