Authorities have requested that the populace steers clear from a certain part of southern Belfast due to “continuing disturbances”. This alert was issued on Tuesday following incidents involving about 50 youngsters who attacked law enforcement officers with petrol bombs and paint on the preceding day.
A representative of the PSNI provided an update later on Tuesday, advising motorists and the general public to stay clear of Glenmachan Street in southern Belfast as the unrest continues. They anticipated disruptions to last several hours and extended gratitude for the patience demonstrated by the public.
Images circulating on social media revealed the presence of a number of PSNI Land Rovers in the vicinity, alongside masked youths lobbing projectiles. Several police vehicles, as well as cars owned by ordinary citizens, were damaged in the chaos that ensued at the nearby Broadway Roundabout on Monday night.
Edwin Poots, a DUP MLA in southern Belfast, explained that there has been an extended period of high tension between youngsters from the western and southern sects of Belfast at the intersection. He described physical altercations and missile-throwing incidents near a busy thoroughfare. Poots called upon Belfast City Council and other entities to conceive schemes aimed at deterring potential violence.
He described the situation as a persistent issue since October of the previous year, which escalated on Monday. He voiced concerns to the BBC about local people having to tolerate this kind of antisocial behaviour repeatedly, and expressed sympathy for the residents living around the area.
Poots believes that measures will need to be taken to defuse the situations in the locality due to the high risk of someone getting seriously harmed. While he acknowledges this as a matter of law enforcement which the police will handle, he also underscores the importance of community diversionary work. Furthermore, he feels this particular area is under-resourced in comparison to others in Belfast, suggesting that the council and other concerned organisations have failed to adequately address the issue. Providing these young people an alternative to draw them away from such activities would be beneficial, he proposes.
Poots mentioned that this situation has been foreseen and that appeals for decisive action to be taken have fallen on deaf ears for several months now.
“He pointed out, “There is a serious threat of someone getting critically hurt considering the constant bustle on that road. Brawls breaking out, projectiles flying – it’s a risk to the general public’s safety. Moreover, a car could collide with one of these youngsters. Hence, it’s crucial that we crack down on this issue and seek to prevent it.”
Paul Maskey, Sinn Féin MP for West Belfast, made his concerns known, stating, “The recent violent disturbances and antisocial behaviour in the Broadway vicinity are indeed alarming. Such actions are completely intolerable. This reckless conduct paints a false image of our city, standing in sharp contrast to the essentially transformative work being undertaken to further positiively shift Belfast’s image.
“I would plead for peace in the troubled area and strongly advise the younger generation to avoid being ensnared in such damaging ventures. It could significantly mar their future prospects and result in a criminal record,” concluded Paul Maskey for PA.