City rioting arranged through text messages
TEENAGERS arranged sectarian rioting through text messaging and social networking sites during the switching on of the Christmas tree lights in Belfast city centre, it has emerged.
UUP MLA for North Belfast Fred Cobain said the phrase 'recreational rioting' used in the past to describe the sectarian trouble arranged by teenagers is a "poor description for what happens".
On Tuesday night rival groups of young people were involved in sectarian clashes as popular children's television character Bob the Builder switched on the Christmas lights.
Last night it emerged that a crew from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service were caught up in the city centre disturbances.
They had been attending the scene of a road traffic collision at College Square North where two 15-year-old females had been knocked down by a car when a "hostile crowd of approximately 30 youths began hurling missiles at police who were also attending the incident".
A NIAS spokesman said: "Our crews were attending the scene and had to take shelter while attempting to provide care to these two young girls. It is a credit to their professionalism that they stayed with the patients while these missiles were raining down and landing just feet away from them."
Riot police had to be deployed onto the streets as youths from nationalist and loyalist areas ran through the city centre.
Windows were broken on two vehicles in the North Street area and fires were started in Castle Street. Sectarian abuse was also shouted between the young rioters.
Two males, aged 19 and 17, and a 14-year-old girl were arrested but have been released pending further reports. The PSNI said there were no reports of any injuries.
Hundreds of parents who had brought their children to watch Bob the Builder were forced to flee the area while most of the shops closed their doors and pulled down their shutters.
Mr Cobain said: "I understand what happened was arranged through social networking sites and through text messaging. What happened was pure vandalism and cannot be called 'recreational rioting'."
UUP councillor Jim Rodgers, who witnessed some of the rioting, said it had been brewing for several hours before it erupted.
"The situation could have been much worse if it was not for the sensitive handling by the police.
"The rioting involved about 50-60 teenagers who had arranged it beforehand on the internet and through text messaging. But the number involved in the trouble was only a small proportion of the youth there who enjoyed the event."
East Belfast DUP councillor Robin Newton said the violence was "depressing".
"Yobs that are out to have a go at each other just don't care if innocent children are injured in the process," he said.
The Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Naomi Long, said it was "most disappointing because it was in stark contrast to the fantastic atmosphere at the actual event itself".
Ms Long explained that the festivities were particularly targeted at young families and children this year and said it was "very sad" that anyone would come along to it "intent on causing destruction".
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Weather for Belfast
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
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Wind direction: South east
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