TENSIONS RISE IN EAST BELFAST AS SECOND PETROL BOMB HURLED OVER INTERFACE

The scene of the petrol bomb attack in Short Strand which left a four-year-old girl with minor injuries

The scene of the petrol bomb attack in Short Strand which left a four-year-old girl with minor injuries

APPEALS for calm have fallen on deaf ears after further tit-for-tat trouble in east Belfast on Tuesday night.

The PSNI say a petrol bomb was thrown from the nationalist Short Strand area into the loyalist Thistle Court area.

It followed an attack from the loyalist side on Tuesday afternoon in which a petrol bomb thrown into the Short Strand ignited close to a four year-old-girl.

Sinn Féin councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile said the child was left “shaken and frightened”.

Children were playing in Bryson Street when the device was thrown over a wall.

Mr Ó Donnghaile said: “There’s no doubt that this could have been very, very serious.

“This happened in broad daylight in the middle of a sunny afternoon when kids are coming home from school and out playing in the street.”

Tensions in the area are high after a petrol bomb was thrown from Short Strand into loyalist Cluan Place on Sunday.

A 15-year-old boy was subsequently arrested for arson.

There have also been reports of stones being thrown between different areas.

It is understood that detectives are examining CCTV footage of the area, amid an appeal for witnesses or anyone with information to contact them.

Police say tensions are high in the area and that they have received reports of stones being thrown between different areas across the interface.

The petrol bomb incident comes after a separate incident on Sunday, when a petrol bomb was thrown from the Short Strand into Cluan Place.

Police are appealing for calm and a spokesperson added: “A number of young people gathered at the interface last night.

“Police would ask parents to ensure that they know the whereabouts of their children, to ensure that they do not get drawn into any violence or anti-social behaviour at interfaces.”

Loyalist community workers in the area say they are working to keep young people away from interface areas and getting into trouble.

One loyalist said: “Two wrongs don’t make a right.

Loyalists show off missiles they say have been thrown from Short Strand into Thistle Court

Loyalists show off missiles they say have been thrown from Short Strand into Thistle Court

“There have been missiles thrown from the Short Strand into Cluan Place and Thistle Court over the last few days.

“Now a petrol has been thrown into the Short Strand. We want to end this before it escalates.”

Trouble has been brewing in the area since the weekend.

Belfast Daily reported on Monday night of a heavy police presence on the streets of east Belfast.

Large crowds gathered along the interface at Short Strand and Newtownards Road.

Locals say up to 40 police landrovers with Tactical Support Group officers were on the scene.

The crowds soon dispersed after local community representatives appeared on the scene to bring calm to the volatile situation.

On Sunday night, fireworks, bottles and other missiles were also thrown during disturbances in east Belfast.

It happened after police responded to reports that around 80 youths had gathered in the Castlereagh Street area.

 

 

 

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