Finn Purdy

The Police Service of Northern Ireland has defended its response to a racially motivated attack on an empty house in Ardoyne and a nearby hit-and-run collision, after local councillor Paul McCusker said residents felt abandoned when officers left the area. Police said they received 82 calls for service during the relevant period and prioritised incidents according to threat, risk and harm, while a drone monitored the area. The house attack, involving smashed windows and paint thrown by masked men, remains under investigation, as does the collision. Police have seized a brick with what appears to be a shotgun cartridge attached and will increase their presence in Ardoyne.

Police defended their response to a racially motivated attack on an empty house in Ardoyne and a subsequent hit-and-run collision, citing 82 calls for service in north Belfast during the relevant period and the need to prioritise threats. The PSNI said officers engaged with residents, used a drone to monitor the area and would increase patrols, while investigations continue into the attackers, a suspected shotgun cartridge attached to a brick and the unidentified motorbike rider. Independent councillor Paul McCusker said residents felt abandoned and questioned the decision to withdraw officers, although he believed the attack was an isolated criminal incident rather than racially motivated.