“Officers at the scene conducted an evidence gathering operation and will review the footage to determine any offences committed.”
The PSNI have issued a statement following reports of a violent mob attacking a migrants car at Connswater retail park.
Police say they received reports at 7.20pm on Monday, September 8 that a group approached two cars in the Factory Street area and confronted the drivers, with one of the vehicles beings damaged.
A witness of the incident, who wished to remain anonymous, told BBC Radio Ulster’s The Nolan Show he saw a group of around 60 men, many with scarves and masks covering their faces, “shaking and jumping on a car” in Connswater Retail Park on Monday night, September 8.
READ MORE: ‘I saw violent mob shake and attack a migrant’s car in East Belfast – I was terrified’READ MORE: Mob surrounds migrant drivers’ cars in ‘hate crime’ at East Belfast shopping centre
Police have said that their officers have “conducted an evidence gathering operation” and are now attempting to “determine any offences committed”.
They have also said that those involved are “generating fear” in their community and their actions have to stop, as they are targeting members of the public “largely on the basis of the colour of their skin.”
Chief Inspector Cunningham said: “The activity of these individuals has been generating fear in the community and it has to stop. They are confronting and intimidating innocent members of the public, largely on the basis of the colour of their skin. “Those involved have neither the legal nor the moral authority to do this. It is the responsibility of the Police Service to enforce the law in Northern Ireland. “Officers at the scene conducted an evidence gathering operation and will review the footage to determine any offences committed. “Enquiries are continuing and at this stage, these incidents are being treated as racially motivated hate crimes. “I want to urge anyone who has been a victim of these groups to report it to police. We will robustly deal with any offences brought to us. “There will be an increased policing presence in the area, with officers continuing to work with relevant partner agencies in east Belfast to engage, challenge and monitor these groups and provide reassurance to the community.” Chief Inspector Cunningham added: “Let me be very clear, these groups are not protecting the community from anything. In reality these groups are frustrating our efforts to provide a policing service to the people of east Belfast by forcing us to redirect our limited resources to monitoring them. I urge everyone involved in this type of activity to stop. “I am appealing to anyone who may have any information or to anyone with CCTV, dash-cam or other footage that could assist with enquiries to contact us on 101 quoting reference 1189 08/09/25. “You can also make a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/or, via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/”
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