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Riots have broken out in the streets of Newtownabbey amid fears that there may be another night of trouble ahead in Northern Ireland.
Three cars were hijacked and set on fire in the O’Neill / Doagh Road loyalist area Saturday night.
A large crowd of onlookers gathered to watch the riots.
Police said Saturday night they were responding following reports of disorder at the Cloughfern roundabout in the O’Neill’s Road area of Newtownabbey.
Video footage emerged of burned cars and a police van being attacked.
The PSNI has called for calm in the area and has asked anyone with any influence in the community to try to ensure that young people are not caught up in crime.
The Northern Ireland Police Federation has called for an end to the violence, saying that people destroying their own communities “is not the way to protest or vent.”
It comes after eight people were arrested and 27 police officers injured during riots in Belfast and Londonderry on Friday night.
Fifteen officers were injured in Belfast, while 12 officers were injured in Derry after being attacked mainly by youths.
Derry City and Strabane area commander Darrin Jones said police received reports Friday night of youths gathering in the Nelson Drive and Tullyally areas of the city.
“Upon their arrival, they were subjected to sustained attacks by a large group of youth and young adults who threw masonry, bottles, gasoline bombs and fireworks,” he said.
“As a result, 12 officers suffered injuries, including head, leg and foot injuries.” Mr. Jones also said that a nursing home was damaged in the Nelson Drive area during the trouble, causing “untold fear and anguish” for residents.
He said it was “totally unacceptable” that Friday was the fifth consecutive night of rioting in the Waterside union area of the city.
“It is vital that we all send a message to those responsible that such behavior will not be tolerated,” he said.
“I would ask anyone who has any influence in communities, whether they are parents, guardians, community representatives or elected officials, please use that influence to ensure that young people are not caught up in crime and that they stay safe and away from harm. In Belfast, two boys, aged 13 and 14, were among eight people arrested in connection with the riots in a loyalist area of Belfast on Friday night.
Police said Saturday night that seven people, including three teenagers, were charged with rioting in the Sandy Row riots.
Four adults, three men, ages 25, 21 and 18, and a woman, 19, are due to appear before the Belfast Magistrates Court on April 30.
Three teenagers, aged 17, 14 and 13, are due to appear in Belfast Juvenile Court on the same date.
Police said 15 officers were injured Friday night after being attacked by a crowd, mainly young people on Sandy Row, who threw rocks, fireworks, flares, manhole covers and gasoline bombs.
Belfast’s district commander, Chief Superintendent Simon Walls, said that “a small local protest quickly turned into an attack on police officers” and that at some points there were as many as 300 people of all ages on the streets.
He called for calm, urging anyone with influence in the loyal community to dissuade young people from causing violence and harm.
He said: “I am not going to engage in a dialogue about political comments.
“What I would ask is that people with influence, people in local communities, dissuade young people, or anyone else, who intends to cause violence or harm police officers.”
He described it as a “real tragedy” that 13- and 14-year-olds were among those arrested.
“I think it is a tragedy that any child in Northern Ireland is sitting in a custody room this morning and facing a criminal investigation, the possibility of being charged and the possibility of facing a criminal conviction,” he said.
“It shouldn’t happen. And that’s why I’m very interested in people with influence trying to ask anyone with intent to violence to please step back. It is not the way to resolve tensions or arguments. ”
Political leaders have also called for calm over the Easter weekend after the riots.
Stormont Prime Minister Arlene Foster urged young people “not to fall into disorder”, saying violence “will not make things better.”
The DUP leader said: “I know many of our youth are greatly frustrated by the events of this past week, but injuring police officers will not make things any better.
“And I send my strong support to all the rank and file police officers who are on duty this Easter weekend.
“I also ask parents to play their part and be proactive in protecting their young adults.” Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis described the riots as “completely unacceptable”.
Lewis said: “Violence is never the answer. There is no place for it in society.
“It is unwanted, unjustified and I fully support PSNI’s call for calm.” He added that his thoughts were with the injured officers.
Disorder has erupted amid continuing tensions within the loyalty in Northern Ireland.
Loyalists and trade unionists are angered by post-Brexit trade deals which they say have created barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
Tensions rose 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.
All major unionist parties have demanded the resignation of PSNI police chief Simon Byrne, claiming that he has lost the trust of his community.
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