PSNI to target rioting planned on social media

Young thugs slammed after bus stoned

THE PSNI are targeting trouble spots linked to anti-social behaviour after a bus was stoned and three people injured.

Senior officers in North Belfast are facing calls to deal with crowds of young people involved in disorder that started on Sunday evening.

Organised fights have occurred in areas including Carlisle Circus and around the Girdwood Community Hub.

On Tuesday night, a bus was hit by stones leaving three females hurt, including a young girl who needed hospital treatment for an eye injury. It is understood the vehicle was not deliberately targeted, but caught in the crossfire of separate crowds attacking each other.

It is believed some of those involved in the disorder are using Whatsapp and Snapchat to arrange trouble at interface areas between Denmark Street and Henry Place.

DUP councillor Dale Pankhurst warned someone could be seriously hurt if action is not taken.

He said: “There’s been issues in the past with arranged fights in parks in the area, but this last few days it’s become more brazen. There’s been stones thrown across roads and the concern would be the wrong person is hit with a stone or the wrong window is smashed and this escalates.”

Sinn Fein councillor JJ Magee added: “People need to do all they can to defuse this situation.

“There’s been trouble now for three nights in a row and you’ve young people scattering when the police come so someone could be hit by a car.

“A lot of it seems to be down to fallouts among peer groups as opposed to an obviously sectarian or interface element even though that’s where a lot of it’s happening.”

A police spokesperson warned the “reckless” stoning of the bus, which occurred shortly after 7.15pm, could have resulted in more serious injuries. He appealed for information on the incident.

SINN FEIN CLLR YESTERDAY