The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) condemned last night's fourth consecutive night of disorder in Northern Ireland, which has resulted in more injured officers, as well as more arrests.
In a statement on Friday morning, June 13, the PSNI said there was "significant disorder and violence" in Portadown, Co Armagh on Thursday night.
Officers came under "sustained attack with heavy masonry and fireworks thrown in their direction," the PSNI said, adding that 22 officers were injured.
The PSNI said officers utilised various public order tactics to keep the public safe, with no reports of injury to the public or damage to property.
Two arrests were made in Portadown – a woman in her 50s and a man in his 30s - on suspicion of riotous behaviour and other offences in connection with the disorder.
The PSNI said on Friday that there was some protest reported in Belfast, though those were "mainly peaceful."
However, bricks were thrown through the windows of two houses in the Avoniel Road area of Belfast in what the PSNI said was "a racially-motivated attack."
There was a protest at Carrick roundabout and a small fire at the Manse Road roundabout in Newtownabbey in Belfast, the PSNI said.
Reports of anti-immigration hate graffiti are being investigated in Newtownards, Co Down.
A house fire in the Mount Street area of Coleraine in Co Derry is being treated as deliberate and a racially-motivated hate crime. A family with three young children was evacuated from this property.
Meanwhile, Ballymena - where the unrest originated on Monday night - did not witness the "disgraceful scenes of rioting" as on previous nights, the PSNI said on Friday morning.
63 officers injured
Later on Friday, PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said that there were "large-scale police deployments" across Northern Ireland on Thursday night.
After outlining the incidents in Portadown and Coleraine, Henderson said that 63 officers have been injured over the course of the four nights of violence in Northern Ireland.
He continued: “Some of those perpetrating this violence claim to be protecting women and girls. This is simply not true, they are criminal acts.
"Destroying and vandalising local communities do not make our towns safer for women and girls, and to claim otherwise is nonsense.
"Tackling violence against women and girls is a key priority for the Police Service of Northern Ireland, and we will work hard for justice for any reporting female."
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Consequences
He continued: “From day one, we have said there will be consequences for those who choose to riot and that accountability would follow for their actions. Our Public Order Enquiry Team is working day and night to identify those involved.
“To date, we have arrested 17 people, 13 of whom have been charged with criminal offences. Four have already been remanded in custody by the court
“I want to reiterate the strong warning made by a District Judge in Ballymena that were there is credible evidence those involved in disorder are likely to be remanded in custody and receive lengthy custodial sentences
“Those comments alongside the arrests, charges, and remands of suspects should send a strong message to those who have been rioting that we are actively taking steps to find you and bring you to justice.
"For those thinking about causing disorder or coming to watch it, stay away, as there will be consequences.
“To those posting hate on social media, inciting disorder, or being seen to commit disorder, we are actively investigating what you have said and what you have been captured doing."
Appeal to identify four individuals
Henderson said images of four individuals that police want to identify and interview in connection with their ongoing investigation into the disorder of the past days have been released. They can be viewed on the PSNI website here.
“In releasing these images, I am asking the wider community to step forward and help us to identify these individuals," Henderson said.
"It is in all of our interests, and in the interests of justice, that those responsible are dealt with, and I would urge anyone who may have information to bring it forward.
“If you are able to identify any of the people shown in these images or can provide information about them should contact us on 101 or on our major incident portal, which is accessible on our website."
"Return to normal"
He concluded: “It is important to know over this coming weekend, the public will again see a large policing presence across Northern Ireland to reassure our communities and protect our streets. This will include the deployment of Mutual Aid resources from Scotland, and we are grateful to Chief Constable Farrell and her colleagues for their support. These officers, trained to work in our environment, will be working side by side with their PSNI colleagues at various locations as part of our policing operation.
“Finally, I would reiterate my appeal for calm in the days ahead. Let Northern Ireland return to normal and start the process of recovery.”
The PSNI says information, photos, and footage can be shared with them through the Major Incident Public Portal online.
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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