'This behaviour is going to result in someone dying'

A police officer was assaulted and 11 police vehicles were damaged during disorder in west Belfast on Saturday night.

Another man was taken to hospital after being attacked with iron bars.

Police closed off a section of the Stewartstown Road after a crowd of about 100 people, many in their early teens, gathered. Bins were set on fire and masonry was thrown at police in scenes described as "absolute chaos".

Youth worker Colm Fanning said it was only a matter of time before the disorder resulted in someone dying.

Videos and pictures posted on social media show youths on top of police Land Rovers.

Three men have been arrested - one on suspicion of disorderly behaviour and a 27-year-old for disorderly behaviour and common law riot. A man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of assault and disorderly behaviour.

Anti-social behaviour has been an ongoing problem in the area and last week police said they were increasing patrols following reports of stones and bottles being thrown at flats and buses along the road.

Police said a planned operation had been in place from Saturday morning with a large number of young people seen travelling at speed and dangerously on scrambler-type bikes and e-bikes in the wider Stewartstown Road and Falls Roads area, Dunmurry and M1.

"The riders had their faces partially covered, no helmets and driving without care for their safety or those around them," the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said.

"Stingers were deployed on a number of vehicles in an attempt to halt the drivers and a scrambler seized.

"Its 17-year-old rider was interviewed for dangerous driving, no licence, no insurance and no number plate."

Ch Insp Kelly Gibson, West Belfast area commander, said: "We know the level of local concern on last night's incident and on previous nights of dangerous and risk-taking behaviour.

"These were disgraceful scenes and are doing all we can to keep the Colin community safe."

She added that those choosing to get involved "were causing destruction within your own community".

"Your actions are impacting your own families, friends and neighbours," she said.

Colm Fanning, a youth worker from the Lagmore Youth Project, said images of the disorder were "stark".

"The behaviour that's going on down here is going to result in someone dying. We've seen so many accidents, and it's only a matter of time."

He said most of the young people were bystanders who were watching the disorder.

"The majority of those that were involved were adults," he said.

"My concern is about the number of young people that were being used to get involved in trying to lure out the police."

Fanning added that some of the children at the disorder were as young as nine.

"Young people don't understand what they're doing to their own community, they don't understand what they're doing to their own future," he said.

Sinn Féin assembly member Danny Baker said the "main thoroughfare was shut down by large groups of young people determined to cause chaos and destruction".

Baker continued: "What we witnessed on the Stewartstown Road last night was absolutely disgraceful.

"Residents and businesses were once again hemmed in, while youth workers were threatened by sinister elements standing on the sidelines of the disorder.

"This is not the Colin [Glen] I know, the Colin I represent or the Colin I love."

Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey, who represents west Belfast, said the "people of Colin deserve better".

"Those intent on disrupting residents, closing off a key thoroughfare connecting communities and intimidating youth workers offer nothing for our community," he said.

"I'm urging those responsible to stop this madness before someone is seriously injured or worse."

Independent councillor Paul Doherty said the Stewartstown Road was "absolute chaos" again.

"The place is out of control," he said.

"Those involved are showing complete disregard for their own community and for everyone who lives here.

"How any parent can be unaware of where their children are during all of this and not act immediately is beyond me."

Doherty called for decisive action, adding that the current approach to the issue was not working.

He took to social media to thank the council staff who were out first thing on Sunday morning to clean up the mess.