Seven PSNI officers assaulted near Belfast music festivals in five incidents

Seven Police Service of Northern Ireland officers were assaulted across five separate incidents while policing music festivals in Belfast on Sunday.

Seven PSNI officers assaulted near Belfast music festivals in five separate incidents

Seven Police Service of Northern Ireland officers were assaulted across five separate incidents while policing music festivals in Belfast on Sunday, Google News UK — Crime (en) reports, citing BBC coverage of a statement from senior PSNI officers.

The attacks occurred in the vicinity of two events: the Emerge festival at Boucher Road Playing Fields and the CHSq gig at Custom House Square. Two of the officers sustained injuries serious enough to prevent them from continuing their duties — one bitten on the arm, the other suffering a significant knee injury.

Chief Inspector Andy George said the PSNI was "supporting these officers following a difficult 24 hours in the city." He added: "Officers put themselves on the front line to help keep people safe — they do not deserve to be assaulted for simply doing their job."

Three of the five incidents took place at the Boucher Road event. Officers approached a teenage boy seen carrying bottles of alcohol, at which point, according to George, the boy "became aggressive — kicking one officer to the leg and another in his groin area." A third officer was kicked during the arrest of the teenager, who was charged with assault on police and disorderly behaviour.

A fourth officer at the same location was struck in the face and knocked to the ground when police challenged a 22-year-old man suspected of concealing drugs. The officer sustained additional injuries to his arm in the fall.

The remaining three assaults took place near Custom House Square. In one incident, an "aggressive male" bit an officer on the arm, breaking the skin and causing what George described as a "significant injury" that left the officer unable to remain on duty. A second officer required hospital treatment after being attacked from behind, sustaining a serious injury to the back of his knee. A third incident involved a man described as "aggressive and verbally abusive" who attempted to punch an officer and was subsequently charged with assault on police.

George confirmed that two individuals had already been charged and were due to appear before Belfast Magistrates' Court next month. "All of these shameful attacks on our officers will be investigated rigorously," he said.

He noted that the volume of assaults from a single policing district within 24 hours "shows the often grim reality of what our officers on the ground are facing each and every day, and the courage and professionalism with which they serve our communities."

Source: Google News UK — Crime (en)