Up to 50 young people involved in attacks on police in Belfast

A number of police cars were damaged (Picture: PA)

Up to 50 young people were involved in attacks on police in south Belfast with petrol bombs and paint, the PSNI has said.

A number of police cars as well as cars belonging to members of the public were damaged during the disorder at the Broadway Roundabout on Monday night.

No injuries have been reported to police officers.

South Belfast DUP MLA Edwin Poots said tensions in the area have been high for months between young people coming from the west Belfast side of the junction and those from the south Belfast side “hand to hand fighting” and throwing missiles close to a busy road.

He has called for intervention from Belfast City Council and other organisations to create diversionary schemes.

The PSNI’s District Commander for Belfast, Chief Superintendent Jeremy Lindsay, urged those involved to “seriously consider the impact of their actions”.

“Thankfully, no injuries to police officers or the public were reported. However, this was a particularly protracted period of public disorder lasting into the early hours of today,” he said.

“Petrol and paint bombs were thrown at officers and vehicles by groups of up to 50 young people. The windscreens of three cars were shattered and splattered with paint with some damage also caused to our police vehicles.

“Local officers will continue to patrol the area tonight to prevent anti-social or disorderly behaviour and detect those involved. We will also continue to work alongside our partner agencies, local representatives and the community.

“I would urge the young people who have been involved and their parents or guardians to seriously consider the impact of their actions on the local community, but also on their own futures.

“These actions have serious consequences. My message is simple: walk away and don’t get involved in any trouble.”

He added: “Officers will continue to provide a visible policing presence in the area and I would encourage you to report any and all incidents of anti-social behaviour in your community.

“The more we know, the more we can do to support people and take positive action. You can contact on 101 or 999 in an emergency.”

File pic of DUP MLA Edwin Poots (Liam McBurney/PA)

Mr Poots said the situation in the area has been “ongoing from October last year” but had been “taken to a different level” on Monday.

“Week after week the local people are having to put up with this nonsense and it is grossly unfair on the residents that are living in the nearby area,” he told the BBC.

“Ultimately something is going to have to be done (to reduce tensions in the area) because someone is going to get seriously injured.

“This is a policing matter and the police will have to deal with it but there are a number of things that can be done, community diversionary work is critically important and perhaps this particular area is not as well-resourced in that as some of the other areas in Belfast, and council and others have missed the ball in that, having something to take these youths away from the area would have been beneficial.

“We have known about this and we’ve been pressing and urging for more action to be taken for many months now.”

He added: “Someone is going to get seriously injured, that’s a busy road, people are hand to hand fighting, they’re throwing missiles, a member of the public could get hurt, a vehicle could hit one of these young people, so really we need to clamp down on it and get it stopped.”

Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl said she is thankful that no police officers were injured.

“For the second time in a week, we have seen police officers attacked, this time with petrol bombs in South Belfast,” said Ms Nicholl.

“I am disgusted, disappointed and angry at this. What possesses people to go out and carry out such attacks on those who are there to protect us? My thoughts are with all the officers who were attacked in this horrendous incident and I am thankful none were injured.

“Those involved have done nothing but bring misery and disruption to residents, workers and anyone else affected. These sorts of incidents are not wanted by the vast majority of people here.

“If anyone has any information on those involved in this, I urge them to take it to police immediately.”