PSNI say more officers hurt after fifth night of violence in Northern Ireland
POLICE IN NORTHERN IRELAND have said that more officers were injured as heavy masonry and fireworks were thrown during disorder last night.
A senior officer warned that the force is actively investigating people inciting the anti-immigration riots through social media.
The scenes in Portadown last night were the fifth consecutive night of rioting in Northern Ireland after serious disturbances in Ballymena on Monday.
The violence, which followed an alleged sexual assault on a teenage girl in the Co Antrim town, has since spread to several other parts of Northern Ireland.
Hundreds of people
are attending a rally in Belfast city centre
which has heard calls for greater political leadership in opposing racism.
More than 60 police officers have been injured during the week of rioting.
In a statement, the PSNI said that disorder and violence broke out in Portadown with officers coming under sustained attack with heavy masonry and fireworks thrown at them.
'Officers used various public order tactics including water cannon to keep the public safe with no reports of injury to the public or damage to property,' the statement said.
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Arrests
Two males, aged 14 and 20, were arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour and remain in custody.
Meanwhile, police in Derry dealt with disorder in the Tullyally area. A police vehicle was damaged, with the front window smashed.
One male was arrested at around 2.20am and remains in custody.
Damage was caused to playing fields and property in the Killeavey Road area of Newry as a large group set a pitch and bins on fire. One 14-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of riot.
Stones were thrown at the windows of a hotel in the Newtownabbey area and a car was set on fire in the Hesketh Gardens area of Belfast, which police are treating as a racially motivated crime.
The disorder started in Ballymena on Monday after an alleged sexual assault of a girl in the town last weekend. Two 14-year-old boys, who spoke to a court through a Romanian interpreter, have been charged with attempted rape.
A peaceful protest about the alleged assault on Monday evening was followed by attacks on properties housing ethnic minorities and police. The PSNI described the scenes as 'racist thuggery'.
Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said: 'It's deeply disturbing to see such young members of our communities involved in and in some areas driving criminal activity like this.
'I would appeal directly to parents and guardians to speak to your children about the impact their behaviour is having on the safety of our local communities and the impact this could have on their lives if arrested, charged and prosecuted.'
PSNI release images
Jones said the police continue to have a heightened presence in local communities to de-escalate violence and are making arrests. She said they will continue to make public appeals with photos of suspects.
Do you want your child, family member or friend directly associated with this disorder in this way? These actions are not without serious consequence.
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Jones added: 'To those posting hate on social media, inciting disorder or being seen to commit disorder, we are actively investigating what you have said and what you have been captured doing. We have an ongoing physical and online presence.'
The PSNI
has already released images of four individuals they want to identify
and interview in connection with their ongoing investigation.
They have since released the image of a fifth individual that they wish to speak to in connection with the incidents of disorder and attacks on police officers.
Police in Antrim are seeking to identify this man.
PSNI
PSNI
'In releasing these images, I am asking the wider community to step forward and help us,' Jones said.
'It is in all of our interests, and in the interests of justice, that those responsible are dealt with and I would urge anyone who may have information to bring it forward.'
She said there will continue to be a large policing presence across Northern Ireland this weekend, which will include the deployment of police officers from Scotland who will be working alongside the PSNI.
'We repeat, once more, our appeal for calm across Northern Ireland in the coming days.'
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