Loyalists and racist mobs have been involved in self-styled “vigilante
patrols” against foreigners in east Belfast and Ballymena, and other
incidents are reported to have taken place but not caught on camera.

The PSNI “must do more” to tackle racist mob violence after the latest
attack, a Sinn Féin spokesperson said.

“This was a deplorable attack by thugs in Connswater Retail Park and
another example of the disgusting and sporadic racist violence which we
have seen across the city,” a party spokesperson said.

“Vigilante violence is unacceptable and has no place in society and is
wrong and it must stop immediately.

“Police must do more to stop these incidents, arrest and urgently bring
those involved before the courts.”

Brian Smyth, Green Party councillor on Belfast City Council, said the
PSNI should have intervened and expressed fears someone would be killed.

He said the PSNI should not have simply watched what he described as “an
attempt at a racial lynching”.

“If a car is being attacked, get in there,” he said. “If there is an
attack on a car in plain sight, go in and arrest.

“The onus is now on the police. The public are rightly outraged at this,
there needs to be people arrested.”

The unequal approach by the PSNI (formerly the RUC) to public order
incidents has long been apparent, most shockingly in 1997 when innocent
Catholic civilian Robert Hamill was beaten to death by a loyalist mob in
front of PSNI vehicles in Portadown.

On the other hand, there are continuous reports of incidents of day-to-day
police brutality against youths from nationalist and republican areas.

The PSNI were accused this week of using unnecessary force against four
young people during a car stop that resulted only in the seizure of a
toy water pistol (pictured, left).

The incident took place in the Clifton Street area in North Belfast on
Wednesday, September 10, with footage of the incident also being
captured on video.

The PSNI said they deployed “firearms officers” after a toy “resembling
a firearm” had been reported.

North Belfast Sinn Féin representative Gerry Kelly says the video shows
the police “forcibly manhandling” the four young people, who were aged
between 17 and 20, even though they were cooperating with the PSNI.

He said that he has spoken to the parents and two of the brothers who
were involved in it, and seen the wounds inflicted on them.

“I have spoken to parents and two of the brothers from Ardoyne, who have
shown me their injuries,” he said.

“The only item found in the car was a white water pistol. I agree with
the family that this was an unnecessary use of force as the young people
were cooperating, as can be seen in the video.

“The family have said that they will be pursuing a complaint with the
Police Ombudsman’s office. I will continue to work with the family
throughout this process.”