Community must help end rioting

Community representatives must help end the serious rioting which saw four police injured in Belfast city centre, a senior PSNI officer said tonight.

Chief Superintendent Stephen Grange, the south Belfast district commander, said all groups must "play their part" to avoid a repeat of the weekend’s violent scenes.

Last night officers fired plastic baton rounds and arrested two people following violence in the Sandy Row area.

A crowd of up to 75 loyalists attacked officers with blast bombs and petrol bombs, while there were also reports of shots being fired.

The violence followed trouble the previous night in nearby Bradbury Place where four police officers were injured during street clashes. Firemen also came under attack as they dealt with fires.

Mr Grange said: "We welcome the efforts of local community leaders in attempting to defuse the situation. However, everyone must realise that grievances, real or imagined, will not be addressed by throwing blast and petrol bombs at police and the destruction of property.

"Relations with the Sandy Row community have been good for some time and we remain committed to working in partnership with the local community. However, for this to succeed everyone must play their part.

"Over the two nights, four police officers were injured when crowds of up to 75 attacked security force personnel with blast bombs, petrol bombs and stones. It is only through good fortune that nobody was killed or more seriously injured. A number of vehicles were also set on fire in the disturbances."

Former Lord Mayor of Belfast, Bob Stoker, who lives in the area also condemned the violence.

"If problems are to be solved, it has got to be done by talking," the Ulster Unionist councillor said.

"We do have to get to the bottom of why this started first of all and I think we will be calling on the community to sit and talk to the police to find out why."

Mr Stoker said local frustration may have been fuelled after a young man was involved in a confrontation with police on Saturday night.

He said: "I think, first of all, we have to make sure that the community is involved in any discussions with the security forces if there are any incidents at all."

Women’s Coalition MLA Monica McWilliams insisted the rioters had only destroyed their own community.

Calling on community leaders to do all in their power to prevent more street clashes, she said: "The use of petrol bombs and blast bombs is particularly ominous.

"I visited Sandy Row this morning and saw that disorder has only damaged the local area and the community. Rioting is never an acceptable way to highlight local problems or settle scores.

"I will be talking to community workers throughout the day. It is vital that dialogue begins at once to prevent the violence continuing or escalating."