Latest news with #sectarianattacks
BBC News
28-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Attacks on north Belfast homes 'mass attempt to cleanse area'
Sectarian attacks on homes in north Belfast are "a mass attempt at cleansing of an area", a housing association has was thrown at properties in Annalee Street and Alloa Street last Wednesday and on Friday some residents said they planned to leave their homes.A multi-agency meeting was held on Tuesday as efforts continue to ensure the safety of a number of Callaghan, of Clanmil Housing Association, which operates the mixed housing scheme, said the attacks are a "sectarian motivated hate crime" and those who have been targeted "would be perceived of being from a Catholic nationalist background". "What we're seeing here is behaviour en masse which is reminiscent of what we had thought we had left behind, either here in 1969 or some other more recent cases, or Bosnia in the 1990s," he told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster."We cannot accept that there's part of this city where anyone should not be able to live because of their perceived race, religion or anything else."Whatever happens in this one street, in Annalee Street, over the next few days and weeks, there are significant lessons that have to be learned, either in terms of the future of this street or elsewhere, because we can't afford to set a precedent here."We have people who are sleeping in homes today who are literally in fear of their lives."Mr Callaghan said Clanmil want everyone allocated a house in the scheme to stay long-term, but understood that some people are very fearful and have said they don't want to return to their homes. "We are going to have to reflect on how we are going to manage the scheme over the next while," he said."We need to have a genuine inter-agency approach to dealing with this issue, because the situation as it currently stands cannot be allowed to stay." 'Reminder of dark past' On Tuesday, Justice Minister Naomi Long said the "sickening attacks are a reminder of a dark past and are carried out by those who wish to continue controlling the communities they purport to serve."It is unthinkable that young mothers are being forced to leave their homes, and I call on those responsible to desist now."The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said they have stepped up patrols in the Féin's North Belfast MP John Finucane said there was a "sinister and organised element" to the sectarian attacks on homes in the Annalee Street and Alloa Street areas."This threat needs to be withdrawn immediately," Finucane said. Independent councillor Paul McCusker said Tuesday's meeting had been very difficult for residents."The families who have been there since Wednesday are not able to sleep, are not eating, it is having a massive negative impact on their lives," he said many residents felt "communication hasn't been great between police and residents" adding there was a feeling police had not been "supportive enough".Police said they are "focused on keeping the residents safe, and are providing enhanced patrols in the area as we work towards a resolution in conjunction with our community partners".Tuesday's meeting had given police "the opportunity to listen to residents' legitimate concerns," Ch Insp Patrick Mullan said.
BBC News
27-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
North Belfast sectarian attacks: Threat needs to be "withdrawn immediately'
A threat against residents of a north Belfast community where a number of homes have been targeted in sectarian-motivated attacks needs to be withdrawn, the area's MP has Féin MP John Finucane said there is a "sinister and organised element" to the sectarian attacks on homes in the Annalee Street and Alloa Street was speaking after a multi-agency meeting on Tuesday as efforts continue to ensure the safety of a number of families."This threat needs to be withdrawn immediately," Finucane said. In the most recent attack, masked men threw masonry at properties in the Annalee Street and Alloa Street areas last Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said they have stepped up patrols in the area. The north Belfast MP said some of the families still feel very vulnerable."Everyone in the room was moved by the stories we were hearing, the trauma that has been inflicted on them since the disgraceful attack last week," Finucane added: "Whoever is behind this needs to explain why they are targeting such vulnerable people. They need to withdraw this threat immediately they need to allow these families to live in peace and security."Finucane said a "robust" police response is needed to both investigate and bring those behind the threat to justice. Independent councillor Paul McCusker said it had been a very difficult meeting for the residents , many of who have not slept since the attack."The families who have been there since Wednesday are not able to sleep, are not eating, it is having a massive negative impact on their lives," he said many residents had concerns around the police said many residents felt "communication hasn't been great between police and residents" adding there was a feeling police had not been "supportive enough"."Residents want to know why they were targeted. We know it is sectarian related, police have confirmed that - certain areas are controlled by paramilitaries and they want to keep control, they don't want Catholics living in those areas."Moving forward, he added, it is about the safety of the said those who have chosen to leave, can not "fall back into a housing system that is broken"."It is about providing adequate safe accommodation for these families, to move on… this needs to happen this week," McCusker said. PSNI Ch Insp Mullan said the police investigation is ongoing."We are focused on keeping the residents safe, and are providing enhanced patrols in the area as we work towards a resolution in conjunction with our community partners."The senior officer added: "As we have stated repeatedly, hate crime has no place in our society. It is absolutely unacceptable that anyone should be subject to criminality because of who they are.
BBC News
26-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
North Belfast sectarian attacks: Paul McCusker calls for OFMDFM support
The first and deputy first ministers have been called on to publicly condemn sectarian attacks on homes in north councillor Paul McCusker, who has written to Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly, said they need to "come out, show commitment and get behind these families".TUV councillor Ron McDowell said local residents are living in "terror and fear".It comes after masonry was thrown at properties in Annalee Street and Alloa Street on Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said they have stepped up patrols in the area. On Friday, a number of residents said they planned to leave their said those targeted were "young girls in their early 20s with babies in their arms"."When they say their houses have been attacked - there are no windows in their homes – they are completely boarded up with a threat of a repeat visit," he said there was an issue with police resources in north-west Belfast. "I don't doubt that the police are doing what they can – they stepped up yesterday and pledged more – they now have the alarms that people can press - but they don't appear to have the resources to deal with this adequately," he said there was a high density of peace walls in the area. "There is a lot of insecurity around community displacement – there are predators within the community within paramilitary gangs who would play on the fears of the local inhabitants, who are protective of homes for their own people and their children," he said."This has been a minority group of Catholic houses that have been targeted in a predominantly unionist area."Incidents along the peace line are nothing new though they don't often get reported - they go on for months and it can be a living hell for people in those areas." Following a meeting between the affected families, police and community representatives on Sunday, McCusker said most families want to stay, but "no one can guarantee their safety".McCusker called for the NI Executive to intervene and for the first and deputy first ministers to "come out and call this out for what it is". Speaking to BBC News NI on Monday, he said: "I mean this is a major problem, you know, north Belfast is one of the most divided parts of Belfast, and a lot more work needs to done to ensure that people regardless if you're Catholic or Protestant or whatever religion you are, that you're entitled to live in a safe home in any community."He added: "It's a massive big upheaval in anybody's life, particularly if you're homeless for eight years to then get a new house and then to be treated this way is just shocking."He said the sectarian attacks are "becoming more of a problem here in north Belfast" and are "not being reported enough". "And we're aware of other families in recent months this has happened to as well and we need that commitment from first minister and deputy first minister to actually to come out, show commitment and get behind these families." 'Sectarian-motivated hate crime' PSNI Supt Allister Hagan said: "We are treating what happened in these residential areas not just as criminal damage, but sectarian-motivated hate crime - which is totally unacceptable."This will not be tolerated. We will continue to work closely with our partners, housing provider, community representatives and local residents in relation to these issues."Police have been "regularly patrolling these areas at varying intervals to deter crime and provide reassurance to the community," Supt Hagan added. "In addition, we have been meeting with residents regularly to listen to their concerns and offer practical support." Clanmil Housing said it has been on site over the a statement, a spokesperson said: "Some families have left their homes at this time, and we have provided alternative temporary accommodation where needed."We absolutely condemn the continued and unprovoked threat to families living peacefully in their homes. Everyone should be allowed to live safely in their home, free from any type of intimidation or threat." The NI Executive office has been contacted for comment.
