Northern Ireland police arrest 5 additional men as racist attacks continue in Belfast

​​​​​​​By Mehmet Solmaz

BIRMINGHAM, England (AA) - The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) announced Thursday that the number arrested for violent race-related attacks increased to 17 in Belfast after five men were taken into custody late Wednesday.

The PSNI said the arrests took place in the eastern part of the city after garbage cans were set on fire and items thrown at law enforcement.

Officers also dealt with reports of criminal damage to homes and cars. The PSNI said one of the arrests was for possession of a petrol bomb.

“Our Public Order Enquiry Team is continuing to review footage to attempt to identify those involved, as well as those organising and orchestrating this disorder. As with any investigative process, the Police Service will follow the evidence and present it to the Public Prosecution Service,” said Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones.

Police said a request to the National Police Co-ordination Centre was submitted for additional officers from across the UK to support policing operations.

“The Mutual Aid officers will provide vital resilience and support and will be given all of the necessary equipment and familiarisation training,” it said.

Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said at a news conference that the PSNI asked for 120 officers from Police Scotland to be temporarily deployed to Northern Ireland beginning next week.

“Having those additional resources is vital to helping us be prepared for any future disorder," he said.

"All our migrant communities, all our diverse communities feel under threat, they feel a fear that I have not experienced, of the like that I have not seen in 40 years of policing,” said Boutcher. “Think of those communities, support those communities, everyone in Northern Ireland needs to do that.”