Residents in west Belfast have reported feeling "fearful" for the safety of their homes due to a group of approximately 30 young people throwing fireworks on Saturday night. Belfast City Councillor Paul Doherty stated that the situation poses a risk of serious injury or even fatalities.
One resident, identified as Gerard, who has lived in the area for two decades, described the incidents as a "regular occurrence" that leaves residents feeling "tortured." He noted that the youths involved ranged in age from as young as nine to teenagers. According to Gerard, when residents contacted the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), they were informed that the situation was not an emergency and no officers were dispatched to the scene. The BBC has contacted the PSNI for comment.
"We have to contend with all that has happened, with no backup whatsoever," Gerard said, expressing the anxiety caused by the disturbances. He added, "It's very frightening and it's causing a lot of anxiety with the residents. These people are banging our windows at all hours and it could turn into something serious."