Violence: Call for hijacking and assault witnesses

Police are calling for witnesses to a bus-hijacking and assault on press photographer in West Belfast yesterday (Wednesday).

Detective Sergeant Kitchen said: “Shortly after 6pm, we received a report that a press photographer, who was attending disturbances on the Shankill Road, had been assaulted.

“The man was returning to his car which was parked in the nearby Cupar Way, when he was approached by two men who attacked him and caused damage to his camera equipment.

“A short time later, just before 7.30pm we received a report that a double decker bus had been hijacked at the junction of Lanark Way.

“The driver and passengers were removed from the bus before it was set on fire.

“No one was injured during the incident; however the driver was left badly shaken.

“We would appeal to anyone who may have witnessed either of these incidents or who may have captured footage on their mobile phone to get in touch. We would also appeal for anyone who was a passenger on the bus to come forward.

“Witnesses can get in touch by calling 101 quoting reference number 1682 of 07/04/21.”

Both attacks have been widely condemned.

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon today said: “Our bus drivers deserve to be safe and they deserve our respect and gratitude.”

The Minister was speaking after a positive meeting between Translink and the Unions where it was agreed that for the coming days, Translink will closely monitor services and the situation on the ground before making a determination on the safety of running services. This will be done in consultation with the PSNI.

Minister Mallon said: “I can understand why bus drivers gathered at City Hall after the attack on one of our drivers last night and I stand in full support and solidarity with them. All bus drivers deserve to feel safe as they go about their job. These public servants, men and women, are mothers and fathers, sons and daughters. They transport our health workers to hospitals, all of us to and from work, children to school, they are a fundamental part of our society and have been working on the front line throughout this pandemic. They deserve to be safe and they deserve our respect and gratitude.

“I appeal again to those responsible for these attacks to stop. There is no place for violence in our society. Attacking public services, destroying your own streets and terrifying your own neighbours will achieve nothing. Enough is enough. We need calm and we need to restore peace on our streets.”

The Belfast and District branch of the National Union of Journalists strongly condemned the attack on a Belfast Telegraph photographer, Kevin Scott.

The chair of the NUJ branch, Robin Wilson, said: ‘The attack on Kevin Scott tonight is unfortunately just the latest in a long line of instances of violence and intimidation directed against our members. Journalists are key workers who provide essential information to the public and they must be allowed to go about their work unmolested.

‘Like all citizens, our members deserve the protection of the rule of law. We call on all public representatives to make clear and unconditional their commitment to uphold the rule of law. And we urge the PSNI to bend every sinew to protect our members whose safety is being put, all too frequently, in jeopardy,’ Wilson said.