The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed today, Tuesday, June 17, that 31 arrests have been made to date relating to recent "racially-motivated disorder."
From these arrests, 23 people have been charged in connection with the disorder across Northern Ireland last week, the PSNI said on Tuesday.
Among the arrests, officers investigating the arson which caused significant damage to Larne Leisure Centre on Wednesday have charged a 25-year-old man with perverting the course of justice. He is due before Ballymena Magistrates’ Court today.
Elsewhere, police investigating Thursday's disorder in Portadown charged a 37-year-old man with two counts of riot and a 32-year-old man with one count of riot. They both appeared in court yesterday.
The PSNI said that on Monday, four people appeared in court, including a 13-year-old girl who was charged with riot in Ballymena last Wednesday and a 33-year-old woman who was charged with child cruelty relating to the disorder.
Also on Monday, the PSNI said that detectives investigating online posts relating to recent public disorder charged a 32-year-old man with sending menacing messages through a public electronic communications network and with encouraging or assisting offences, believing one or more will be committed. He is further charged with possession of a class B controlled drug. He appeared in court on Monday.
The PSNI said on Tuesday that some protests were noted in Belfast’s Shankill and Shore Roads and Clonavon Terrace and Waveney Road in Ballymena last night, which were largely peaceful.
In Derry, there was some disorder in the Nailors Row area from around 9:30 pm to midnight last night, with masonry and fireworks used to attack police.
Three officers were injured - two officers were struck by masonry and one officer was struck by a firework.
An 18-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour and bailed to allow further enquiries to be conducted.
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“Recent days have been calmer," PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said on Tuesday.
"However, this does not mean our investigations into those responsible for the racially-motivated attacks will lose momentum.
"We are continuing to review our evidence gathered over the days of disorder and are robustly investigating the disorder.
"We will be making more arrests and delivering justice to those responsible for these racially-motivated attacks and associated posts on social media.
“Our heightened presence in towns and cities and engagement will continue as we work to keep people safe.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe on our streets. So, just as we will seek justice for women and girls who report heinous crimes to us, we will also seek justice for local innocent families who are being targeted by criminality fuelled by hate.
“We will continue to robustly investigate the disorder over the last number of days, but do not want to see any more young people criminalised by being caught up in this activity.”
The PSNI said on Tuesday that a number of images have been released of individuals police want to identify and speak to in connection with the ongoing investigation.
“If you are able to identify any of the people shown in these images or can provide information about them you should contact us on 101 or on our major incident portal, which is accessible on our website," Henderson said.
Photos and footage, including CCTV, mobile phone or dash cam footage, can be shared with the PSNI through the Major Incident Public Portal.
A report can be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form via PSNI.police.uk/makeareport/ or you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at Crimestoppers-uk.org/.
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