Five arrests following east Belfast disorder (2024)

Police have arrested five men following disorder in east Belfast on Wednesday night.

Objects were thrown at officers at the junction of the Albertbridge Road and Newtownards Road in the east of the city.

Bins were set on fire, blocking Connswater Street, and officers in riot gear were deployed.

Police also dealt with a number of reports of criminal damage to homes and cars in the Silverstream Road, Sandy Row and Upper Frank Street area of east Belfast.

It follows several nights of rioting and disorder in the city.

Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said 16 men have been arrested so far, with seven charged.

The five men arrested after Wednesday's disorder - aged 33, 32, 18 and two aged 25 - were arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour.

Some were also detained on disorderly behaviour, possession of a petrol bomb and resisting arrest.

One officer was injured while making one of the arrests and has been receiving medical attention at hospital.

In a statement, Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said: "For a fourth night, our officers dealt with incidents such as assaults, criminal damage and arson in a challenging environment right across the city.

"Our Public Order Enquiry Team is continuing to review footage to attempt to identify those involved, as well as those organising and orchestrating this disorder."

As the violence broke out again on Wednesday night, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said it had appealed for help from extra officers from other parts of the UK.

It also said it had "significantly mobilised" its existing pool of officers, which would include them working "longer shifts and rest days".

Ass Ch Con Jones said: "Increasing our resources and footprint across Northern Ireland in the coming days will enable us to manage planned events and deal with any sporadic incidents, including disorder.

“We have also submitted a request to National Police Co-ordination Centre for additional officers from across the United Kingdom to support the policing operation."

Officers from the rest of the UK would only assist with public order incidents, the PSNI said.

The aftermath of last night's disorder is visible on the streets of east Belfast this morning.

Burning rubbish used as a road barricade on Wednesday night still smoulders across roads.

There is a smell of charred metal as people walk their dogs and get to work.

Side streets next to CS Lewis Square and Conswater car park are still blocked on one side of the road.

Bricks and masonry are still littered across some roads.

I watch as the local community makes calls to friends and family letting them know that certain roads would be impassable if they’re heading out in the near future.

One resident tells me: "I just want to be able to walk the dogs in peace. It’s your own area, you want people to feel safe here, you don’t want people coming in and trashing the place.

"You don’t feel safe, you just want to live in peace. You want everyone to live in peace.

"When you’re hearing the helicopters out when you’re going to bed at night, it’s not a good place to be at the moment’

Justice Minister Naomi Long said the scenes in east Belfast were absolutely shameful and that people needed to "take a step back and realise the destruction they are inflicting on their own area".

In a post on X, the Alliance Party leader said: "Go home and leave our community in peace. This us not reflective of the people of the east Belfast I know and love."

Earlier on Wednesday, in a direct message to Muslim communities in Northern Ireland, the chief constable pledged that PSNI officers would be "standing beside you".

"We will be standing in harms way," Jon Boutcher said in the video message issued by his force on its YouTube channel.

"I want to assure you they every officer in the Police Service of Northern Ireland is here to look after you. We're here to protect you."

There have been several nights of violence in Belfast including racially motived attacks and rioting.

A number of businesses were targeted after an anti-immigration protest at Belfast City Hall on Saturday.

Further disorder erupted on Monday and Tuesday evening, while a woman's home in Ballyclare was targeted on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, six people were charged with offences related to disorder in Belfast.

The PSNI said the charges related to incidents in Rathlin Street and the Shankill Road area.

Three men - aged 26, 28 and 41 years - have been charged with offences including criminal damage, riotous behaviour, incitement to hatred and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

They are due to appear in court on Thursday.

They were arrested in connection with reports of damage to homes and cars in Rathlin Street.

Three boys - aged 16, 16 and 14 - have been charged with riotous behaviour after being arrested on Tuesday in the Shankill area.

They are due to appear in court on 2 September.