Newtownabbey: 30 petrol bombs, three hijackings and an ‘orchestrated attack’ on police

Those responsible for attacking police with flaming missiles in Newtownabbey last night are urged to step away from immediately.

As many as 30 petrol bombs were launched at the PSNI, who attended the Cloughfern Roundabout area to deal with three hijackings.

The scenes come amid tensions within loyalism across Northern Ireland.

Loyalists and unionists are angry about post-Brexit trading arrangements which they claim have created barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

Tensions ramped up further this week following a controversial decision not to prosecute 24 Sinn Fein politicians for attending a large-scale republican funeral during Covid-19 restrictions.

Some 27 police officers were injured on Friday night across Belfast and Londonderry - where therer have been five consecutive nights of violence

All the main unionist parties have demanded the resignation of PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne, claiming he has lost the confidence of their community, however they have also condemned the violence.

Speaking abut the Newtownabbey incidents, North Area Commander Chief Superintendent Davy Beck said: “Last night again saw people taking to the streets of Northern Ireland to riot.

“From approximately 7.30pm to 10.30pm a crowd of approximately 20-30 people, consisting of young people and older men some of whom were wearing masks gathered in the O’Neill Road/Cloughfern area of Newtownabbey.

“In total 30 petrol bombs were thrown at police and three vehicles were hijacked and set on fire.

“One man aged 47 was arrested and he currently remains in police custody.

“Throughout the evening local councillors worked very closely with police in an effort to diffuse the situation.

Chief Superintendent Beck described events as an “orchestrated attack on police”.

“My officers put on their uniform every day and go out into the community they serve, not knowing what lies ahead of them. However this does not deter them from turning up every day to do their duty. No-one, no matter what line of work they are in deserves to be subjected to any kind of violence. The officers who serve the Newtownabbey area are fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters, they have families who wait every day on their loved ones coming home, hoping they have not been injured, or worse.

He concluded: “We are living in unprecedented times, dealing with a global pandemic, no-one needs the added pressure of disorder in their community. Everyone deserves to live in peace, free from violence. I would appeal to those who are taking to the streets to stop immediately, their actions are causing nothing but harm and distress to the very communities they claim they are representing. The people of Northern Ireland deserve better. “No-one wants to be dragged back to the dark days when rioting was a common occurrence on the streets of Northern Ireland

“We will continue to work with our partner agencies, community and elected representatives and the people of Newtownabbey to ensure we can all live in a peaceful society."

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