Nine cars have tyres slashed in north Belfast... and another set on fire in the city centre

The spree involved slashing the tyres of nine different cars off the Crumlin Road area of north Belfast, which is an interface between republican and loyalist areas.

Shortly after 10:30am this morning (Wednesday) it was reported to police that a white Audi A1 Sport, a blue Ford Focus Zetec and a blue Mazda 2 TSR parked at the Somerdale area had their tyres slashed.

It is not known when these incidents took place.

Then shortly before 11:25am, it was reported to police that five vehicles – a silver Citroen C4 Cactus, an orange Renault Captur, a red Vauxhall Vectra, a black Nissan Micra and a black Volkswagen Polo – had their tyres slashed which were parked in the Crumlin Road area.

The incident is believed to have occurred between 6pm on Tuesday and 6am today, with three youths dressed in dark clothing believed to have been in the area at around midnight.

Then at around 2pm, it was reported to police that a silver Toyota Yaris parked at the Hesketh Road area had its tyres slashed, possibly overnight.

The police are asking people who witnessed anything suspicious in any of the areas to contact them on 101 quoting reference number 508 22/04/20.

Seperately, in an incident which is not being treated by police as linked to the above spree, at around 4am on Tuesday a Ford C Max car parked on the ground floor car park in the Fountain Street area of the city centre had been set alight.

Damage was also reported to the passenger side window to a Fiat 500 car also parked in the car park.

Nothing is believed to have been taken from either vehicle during the incident.

In addition, there was a burglary of licenced premises in the Fountain Street area around the same time.

Entry was gained, and damage was caused to the inside of the premises – but again, nothing is believed to have been taken.

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