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BBC<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nA young boy has been left with minor facial injuries after an attack in west Belfast which police are treating as a hate crime.<\/p>\n The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said the assault happened on the Falls Road on Tuesday evening.<\/p>\n It took place at a Middle Eastern supermarket at about 18:10 BST after a large group of young people started throwing eggs.<\/p>\n A number of arrests have been made.<\/p>\n Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said: “For a third night, our officers dealt with incidents such as assaults, criminal damage, and arson in a challenging environment right across the city.”<\/p>\n “I have no doubt this was a terrifying incident for the young victim.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n ACC Jones said a large group from the local community were outside the store “to diffuse the situation”.<\/p>\n A 14-year-old boy was cautioned for offences such as common assault, disorderly behaviour, and criminal damage.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Sinn F\u00e9in MP for the area, Paul Maskey, told BBC News NI it was “an unwarranted and disgraceful attack”.<\/p>\n It is understood the boy suffered a cut to his lip during the incident.<\/p>\n Mr Maskey said some of the young people involved are “very, very young indeed” and called for parents to check on their children.<\/p>\n “The community came out to stand shoulder-to-shoulder” with the shop owner after the attack, Mr Maskey added.<\/p>\n “When there’s an attack on the community, it’s important to come out and residents came out to show their support,” he said.<\/p>\n SDLP Councillor Paul Doherty said there was an “incredible show of community solidarity” after the attack, while People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll said the attack was “awful”.<\/p>\n It comes after a number of businesses in other parts of the city were targeted during violent protests.<\/p>\n Disorder broke out after an anti-immigration protest<\/a> at Belfast City Hall on Saturday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n “The scenes we have been seeing across Belfast over the last few days have been a disgrace and have no place in Northern Ireland,” said ACC Jones.<\/p>\n “We continue to engage with the groups affected by this criminality and hope these arrests show the community that we are taking action.<\/p>\n “Our Public Order Enquiry Team will continue to review footage to attempt to identify those involved, as well as those organising and orchestrating this disorder.”<\/p>\n The officer added that the PSNI has set up a Major Incident Public Portal<\/a>, external for people to submit information, images and footage which they have gathered by mobile phone, dash cam or CCTV.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nBelfast disorder: More on this story<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
‘Unwarranted, disgraceful’<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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