Call to parents over 'kid thugs'

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Sinn Fein's Alex Maskey has urged parents in the Markets area of Belfast to control their thuggish children, after a night of vandalism.

Children as young as eight were involved in throwing bricks, damaging cars and blocking streets on Tuesday.

Police have been studying CCTV footage and said "a number of definite lines of enquiry are being followed".

Mr Maskey said: "Many of those involved are of a young age and were being led by a known anti-social element."

He added: "This begs the question as to what control their parents are extending to these children."

A caller to BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show said community and youth workers in the area tried to intervene but were threatened.

He said that when residents informed some of the children's parents, they were not interested.

Two youths aged 16 and 19 have been arrested and questioned about public order offences.