Newtownabbey: 'serious injury' warning as knives and metal bars brandished by youths during organised fights
Additional police resources are being deployed in response to fights involving gangs of young people in Newtownabbey in recent evenings.
Over the last few nights, police say officers dealt with large groups of youths involved in organised fights and disorder in the Church Road, Longwood Road and Mill Road areas.
In a statement on Tuesday (December 30), the PSNI added: “This has involved weapons including knives, masonry and metal bars. Needless to say this is entirely unacceptable. There are genuine fears that should this continue a young person will be seriously injured.
"Parents and those with responsibility for these young persons need to take account regarding the whereabouts of their children and in supervising access to social networking sites.
"Carrying weapons could not only cause others great harm, but also damage their own lives if they end up with a criminal conviction.
"We will have additional resources in the area and any persons whom we suspect of being involved will be stopped and searched.”
Anyone who can assist police in their enquiries is asked to contact 101, quoting reference 1283 of 29/12/25. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.