Arson attack on Shore Road house and three further arrests but overall reduction in disorder, says senior PSNI officer
Police made three further arrests as they dealt with “lower level disturbances” in parts of the province on Thursday night (June 11).
Although there was an overall reduction in disorder, incidents included an arson attack on a house in the Shore Road area of north Belfast and reports of race-hate graffiti in the Dee Street and Newtownards Road area of east Belfast.
In a statement on Friday, Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said: “Our heightened presence in our local communities and engagement to de-escalate violence continued last night.
"Thankfully, the situation was much calmer than we have seen in recent days. Our policing operation will remain over the weekend to ensure public order is maintained.
"There were peaceful protests last night at a number of locations, including Newtownabbey, with no significant incidents of public disorder. Officers engaged with participants supporting their right to express their views lawfully.
"Last night, officers were dealing with some lower level disturbances and keeping focus on patrols of key areas. There were three arrests in total across Northern Ireland - one in connection with disorder on Wednesday and including a man detained following criminal damage to a vehicle in the Taughmonagh area of south Belfast."
A 27-year-old male who threw a stone at a PSNI vehicle during a mobile patrol in Abbeyville Court in Newtownabbey, was arrested on suspicion of disorderly behaviour.
There was, police noted, no significant disorder in Derry/ Londonderry overnight with one arrest of a 16-year-old male for riotous behaviour the previous night (Wednesday).
ACC Henderson continued: “There have been 19 arrests so far this week with people already charged to court. Our Public Order Enquiry Team is working day and night to identify those who have been involved in the disorder over the last number of days."
Police added that information can be provided via the following:
- A report can be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org/
- You can also contact us on 101
- Photos and footage - including CCTV, mobile phone or dashcam footage - can be shared with police through the Major Incident Public Portal at www.mipp.police.uk/operation/PSNI26W14-PO1
- Images of people would like to speak to in connection with the disorder are being released regularly through Op Exposure and can be viewed here: www.psni.police.uk/news/op-exposure-june-2026.
Disorder erupted across Northern Ireland following protests in the wake of the brutal stabbing of Stephen Ogilvie in north Belfast on Monday night.
A 30-year-old man originally from Sudan has been remanded in custody after appearing in court on a number of charges including attempted murder.
Mr Ogilvie’s family issued a statement on Wednesday calling for calm and emphasising “we do not want this terrible tragedy to be used to divide people or fuel hostility”.