Arrests after PSNI attacked with petrol bombs in Belfast
But PSNI ACC says disorder was not on scale of previous Eleventh nights
Last updated 12th Jul 2019
Police officers came under attack from petrol bombs at a community interface area in Belfast last night (Thursday).
Two arrests were made in the nationalist Springfield Road.
An individual has also been charged in relation to the placement of offensive material on a bonfire in Lisburn, PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Barbara Gray said.
She added: "Regrettably, however, our officers did come under attack when on patrol in the interface area at Springfield Rd near Lanark Way where a number of people had gathered and a number of petrol bombs were thrown.
"Our officers were quick to act. A 16-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of unlawful assembly and a 17-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour. Both males have been released on bail pending further enquiries.
“We will also be investigating incidents of complaints about various materials, some of which were clearly distasteful, placed on bonfires. A 52-year-old man was arrested and charged with offences including criminal damage and he is due to appear at Lisburn Magistrates' Court next month. As is normal procedure, the charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service."
Ms Gray said disorder was not on the scale witnessed in past years on the Eleventh Night.
"I am relieved that over the past 24 hours we haven't seen a repeat of the violence we witnessed on our streets this time last year,'' she said.
In an apparent reference to the stand-off over the Avoniel bonfire in Belfast, Ms Gray said: "There is absolutely no doubt that there has been challenges over the last week, not just for us as a police service but for other public services.
Ms Gray added: "None of this is easy and the resolution to these challenging issues does not rest with the police.''
She noted that a Stormont-established working group set up to examine ways to deal with the thorny issues of flags, identity, culture and tradition has still not reported three years on from its inception.
"We still wait any proposal from that commission,'' she said.
Ms Gray said the offensive material on the bonfire in Lisburn was related to election campaigns.
Bonfire builders have faced criticism in the past for placing election posters belonging to nationalist and republican politicians on the fires and burning them.
Asked why police did not move against the bonfire builders when the council asked the PSNI to investigate allegations of aggravated trespass, Ms Gray said: "We have no powers to remove anybody.''
She said police had to comply with "complex legislation'' and had undertaken evidence-gathering at the site.
She added that any police action also had to be "proportionate''