Residents are living in “fear” after fresh disturbances at a flashpoint area in Belfast, a community group has warned.
Plans are underway for a public meeting on the issue of disorder in the Broadway area of the city after incidents in the early hours of Sunday.
Police responded to reports that flares and masonry were thrown by a group of men in the area, which is between the nationalist Falls Road and the Village area of south Belfast.
Five men and two teenagers were arrested in connection with the reports, and have since been released on bail.
The disturbances on Sunday morning follow disorder in the interface area last summer, including a night in July when over 30 petrol and paint bombs were thrown at police.
Seán Doherty from the Beechmount Residents Collective said reports by locals in the Iveagh area beside Broadway that older men were involved in the latest disorder had led to increased fears.
“After speaking to residents, there has been a sense of fear put into our community as to what were their intentions were,” he said of those involved.
“These were not kids as we have seen in recent incidents - this was more sinister.
“This is a worrying development after the months of heightened tensions in the Broadway area and we call on all concerned to remain calm and to remain vigilant. I would urge youths to stay clear of the area as we don’t want see them caught up in this madness.”
He added: “The situation seems to be getting worse, not better, and it’s time for political representatives and community groups on all sides to get real and come together before we see someone seriously injured or even killed.”
Mr Doherty said the Beechmount Residents Collective will be organising a “community meeting for all to come together to diffuse tensions and create an environment for all to have hard conversations on the best way forward”.
West Belfast Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey said of Sunday’s disorder: “This kind of behaviour is disgraceful and unwanted. Local residents deserve to live in peace, free from trouble, threats and violence.”
Belfast DUP councillor Tracy Kelly said: “People on both sides of Broadway want to live in peace and side-by-side with their neighbours. Incidents like this only serve to increase tensions and put residents in both areas in fear of reprisals.”
A PSNI spokesperson the five men aged 31, 27, 23, 22, 21, and two males aged 17, who were arrested following a report of anti-social behaviour in the Broadway area have all been released on bail to allow for further police enquiries.
“The investigation is ongoing and officers would ask anyone who witnessed the incident or captured dash-cam footage from the area which could be of assistance to their investigation to contact them,” they said.
