The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is investigating a serious assault on a man in Belfast last night, Monday, August 5, as a hate crime.
A member of the public, a man aged in his 50s, was taken to hospital after he was seriously assaulted in the Donegall Road and Oban Street area on Monday night, PSNI said in an update on Tuesday.
Witnesses reported seeing his attackers stamp on his head as members of the public attempted to shield him from further attack.
His condition is described as serious and the PSNI say they are treating his attack as a hate crime.
The PSNI said on Tuesday that it strongly condemns the "disgraceful" scenes of violence on the streets of south Belfast last night.
In a second night of rioting and disorder, mainly in the areas of Donegall Road and Sandy Row, police officers came under sustained attack over a number of hours with multiple petrol bombs, heavy masonry, and bricks thrown in their direction.
Petrol was also poured over a police landrover and set alight; the occupants of the vehicle were not physically harmed and remained on duty.
One 15-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of riotous behavior and remained in police custody as of Tuesday morning.
Police warning of impact rounds being fired as petrol bombs and missiles continue to rain down on them in Sandy Row area of Belfast tonight pic.twitter.com/rMlY2NjF2A
— Stephen Murphy (@SMurphyTV) August 5, 2024
The PSNI said on Tuesday that earlier in the evening on Monday, a protest and counter-protest involving approximately 40 people had formed in the area of Ormeau Avenue around 5 pm.
Officers attended to "ensure an appropriate and proportionate policing response," the PSNI said.
A report was then made of criminal damage to a family home in the Pandora Street area with windows broken.
According to the PSNI, a small group gathered at the junction of University Road/Bradbury Place before moving to Donegall Road. However, larger crowds gathered with some masked rioters mounting attacks on officers.
During the course of the serious disorder, authorized officers discharged two Attenuating Energy Projectiles (AEPs) with one rioter struck on the hand.
The PSNI said that attempts were also made to torch a supermarket that had been targeted on Saturday night. Officers were able to douse this small fire before it developed.
An attempt to re-torch the supermarket tonight, thwarted by police here in Sandy Row as disorder continues.
Riot police extinguished the fire with water and fire extinguishers @BelTel pic.twitter.com/cpUV23dBbz
— Kevin Scott (@Kscott_94) August 5, 2024
A number of nearby roads were closed by police to "ensure the safety of the public and local residents, and to enable officers to deal with the situation and disorder safely," the PSNI said. All roads were subsequently reopened.
Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said on Tuesday: “This disorder, violence, and destruction has no place in Belfast or anywhere else across the streets of Northern Ireland.
“We are engaging with groups that have been affected by this disorder and we are gathering evidence, CCTV, and other footage to progress criminal investigations.
“We are working at pace to identify offenders and make arrests. We are determined to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.
“Anyone who has information or who can help identify those responsible is asked to contact us on 101.”
A report can be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form via PSNI.Police.uk/makeareport or you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at CrimeStoppers-uk.org.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Jones further said: "We have an open mind who is orchestrating and organizing this.
"What we saw last night, we feel, is different from what we saw on Saturday.
"On Saturday, we saw mainly older, adult people who became involved in disorder.
"Last night, it was clear to us that there was a younger element - teenagers, mainly - who were involved in the disorder, but that there was an element of organization and orchestration from what appeared to be older adults present at the scene."
Jones went on to say: "I have no doubt there is a paramilitary element to this, but I am not in a position to say that this is the main organizer or orchestrater of these events.
"However, we do keep an open mind to this and this will be part of our investigative strategy."
🚨🗣NEW: Temporary ACC Melanie Jones says there is "no doubt" that there is a "paramilitary element" involved in organising violence across Belfast.
📍❗️Our Chief Reporter @jamesgould23 was at PSNI HQ:
- Water cannons available to use when needed.
- "Appropriate" police… pic.twitter.com/VIzZyhscbn
— Cool FM News (@newsoncool) August 6, 2024
Monday's rioting and disorder follow similar scenes that erupted on Saturday in Belfast, leading to four men being charged and remanded into custody on Monday.
Saturday's violence was condemned by Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly who both met with PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher on Monday.
Elsewhere on Monday, the Northern Ireland Assembly, which is on recess, was recalled for this Thursday to consider a motion that, in part, condemns the "criminal damage and targeting of businesses in recent days."
Meanwhile, during a special meeting on Monday evening, Belfast City Council passed a motion in support of the people and businesses affected by violence during protests in the city on Saturday.
It was also agreed that council officers would submit a report to a future special meeting of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, as soon as possible, “to establish a programme of financial assistance for the business owners who were impacted by racist criminal attacks."
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