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Talks follow sectarian attack in Suffolk, west Belfast | Talks follow sectarian attack in Suffolk, west Belfast |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Community leaders in west Belfast have said relations between Protestants and Catholics have not been damaged by weekend violence in the Suffolk area. | Community leaders in west Belfast have said relations between Protestants and Catholics have not been damaged by weekend violence in the Suffolk area. |
A house and four vehicles were attacked in Ringford Park on Friday. | A house and four vehicles were attacked in Ringford Park on Friday. |
It is understood nationalist youths were involved in the attack in a loyalist area. | It is understood nationalist youths were involved in the attack in a loyalist area. |
Residents, community workers and politicians from the DUP, SDLP and Sinn Fein held a joint news conference after meeting police at lunchtime on Monday. | Residents, community workers and politicians from the DUP, SDLP and Sinn Fein held a joint news conference after meeting police at lunchtime on Monday. |
They said police had promised extra patrols in the area. | They said police had promised extra patrols in the area. |
A number of Catholic families went to Protestant households to offer support following Friday night's attack. | A number of Catholic families went to Protestant households to offer support following Friday night's attack. |
Gerry McConville, director of the Falls Community Council, said: "An incident like this shows just how strong those relations are. | Gerry McConville, director of the Falls Community Council, said: "An incident like this shows just how strong those relations are. |
"On Friday night, both sides of the community came together to try to stop this attack and we've been out on the streets since then with our colleagues across the divide." | "On Friday night, both sides of the community came together to try to stop this attack and we've been out on the streets since then with our colleagues across the divide." |
UDA leader Jackie McDonald said: "There's goodwill here. It's not exactly a shared space, but there's a shared recognition of the problems. | UDA leader Jackie McDonald said: "There's goodwill here. It's not exactly a shared space, but there's a shared recognition of the problems. |
"I think the two communities have worked very well together." | "I think the two communities have worked very well together." |
'Questions to be answered' | 'Questions to be answered' |
One issue raised at the meeting was a claim that at the weekend a police officer advised residents to move out of the area. | One issue raised at the meeting was a claim that at the weekend a police officer advised residents to move out of the area. |
"The police officer said to the lady 'well if incidents like this keep occurring, then maybe you should consider packing up and moving out'," the DUP's Ruth Patterson said. | "The police officer said to the lady 'well if incidents like this keep occurring, then maybe you should consider packing up and moving out'," the DUP's Ruth Patterson said. |
"There are questions to be answered here - police officers are here to police and protect this community, not to give advice on to where that community should be heading." | "There are questions to be answered here - police officers are here to police and protect this community, not to give advice on to where that community should be heading." |
Police said they were aware of the claim and were investigating it. | Police said they were aware of the claim and were investigating it. |
They are treating Friday night's attack as a hate crime. Political representatives claimed up to 100 youths were involved. | They are treating Friday night's attack as a hate crime. Political representatives claimed up to 100 youths were involved. |
The police said they had earlier been called out to a house party in Brooke Drive. Some youths had moved into the street and there were scuffles. | The police said they had earlier been called out to a house party in Brooke Drive. Some youths had moved into the street and there were scuffles. |
The police said there were between 50 to 100 youths in the area but they said no offences were noted in regard to this incident. | The police said there were between 50 to 100 youths in the area but they said no offences were noted in regard to this incident. |
One Suffolk resident told the BBC: "They were like animals, that's how you would describe them, animals. | One Suffolk resident told the BBC: "They were like animals, that's how you would describe them, animals. |
"If there had have been anybody on this road there would have been a murder scene - that's how bad it was." | "If there had have been anybody on this road there would have been a murder scene - that's how bad it was." |
In a separate incident on Monday night, the DUP said a car was damaged in the Suffolk area in a sectarian attack. | |
It said a windscreen was broken when stones were thrown from the Stewartstown Road. |
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