Further disorderly behaviour has occurred in east Belfast, with groups of young people engaging in sporadic fighting and anti-social acts.
Following two nights of rioting in south Belfast on Monday and Tuesday, police said that they received reports of a crowd gathered in the area of Short Strand/Ravenhill Road/Albertbridge Road on Wednesday evening.
“Some of the young people gathered engaged in disorderly behaviour, with sporadic fights breaking out,” said a PSNI spokesperson.
“We are engaged with local representatives and the wider community to prevent further instances and we would particularly ask parents to speak to their children so they do not become involved in such behaviour.
“We will have additional patrols in place in the area to provide reassurance to residents.
“We would encourage local people to report any and all incidents of disorder or anti-social behaviour to us – the more we know, the more we can do to support people and take positive action. Please call us on 101 or 999 in an emergency.”
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On Wednesday, DUP MLA Edwin Poots said he has made a series of “proposals” to quell any further rioting in south Belfast including “removing pedestrian access between Boucher Road and the Village”.
The Belfast Telegraph has asked Mr Poots for further clarification on what this would entail.
Trouble flares between young people and police in south Belfast with petrol bombs and paint being thrown.
Photograph by Declan Roughan / Press Eye
The politician said he has been “engaging” with residents in south Belfast and police officers in relation to the two nights of disorder in the area earlier this week.
Among the other proposals he cited which have been discussed with the local community and PSNI, it also included cameras being installed in the area.
On Monday and Tuesday night officers came under sustained attack by crowds of around 40 people at Glenmachan Street close to the Broadway roundabout.
Police attacked with petrol bombs and fireworks during night of disorder in Belfast
Children as young as seven were involved in throwing bricks, bottles, masonry, and petrol bombs at police lines during six hours of disorder that saw several police vehicles damaged and officers covered in paint.
A 38-year-old man, James Robert Neil Thompson, has been charged with three offences in relation to the incidents – rioting, possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and indecent behaviour in a public place, namely Broadway in south Belfast.