Latest news with #PoliceService
Al Arabiya
5 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Attack on Belfast Islamic center during evening prayers investigated as hate crime
A 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a terror offense in Northern Ireland for allegedly tossing a suspicious device into the Belfast Islamic Center during evening prayers, police said Saturday. No one was injured in the Friday attack but Assistant Chief Constable Anthony McNally of the Police Service of Northern Ireland said ammunition officers determined the object was capable of causing harm. He didn't specify what kind of device it was. McNally said detectives were looking into whether it was a hate crime. No one else was believed to be involved in the attack. 'It is important to stress that, while the suspect has been arrested under the Terrorism Act, the motive for the attack has not yet been established,' McNally said. Police provided no other information about the suspect but said he was in custody. Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn called it a 'shameful attack' and local politicians condemned it as cowardly. 'Hatred of this sort has no place in Northern Ireland,' Benn said.
The Independent
3 days ago
- The Independent
Boutcher says Londonderry disorder is ‘blatant sectarian violence'
Disturbances in Londonderry have been branded 'blatant sectarian violence' by Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable Jon Boutcher. Fourteen officers were injured, some requiring hospital treatment, following a second night of unrest in the Nailors Row area of the city on Tuesday where police were attacked with petrol bombs, fireworks and masonry for several hours. Mr Boutcher has said there will be 'consequences for those involved', adding he would be seeking the 'strongest custodial sentences for those involved in the recent disorder across Northern Ireland'. A PSNI spokesperson said police discharged one baton round in Derry during the disturbances, striking a rioter running towards the police line with lit petrol bombs, who has since been arrested. Eleven arrests were made, eight male teenagers aged between 14 and 17 and three men aged, 29, 30 and 47 years old. Each of the teenagers and two of the males, aged 29 and 30, were arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour. The 47-year-old was arrested on suspicion of intentionally encouraging or assisting riot. They all remain in custody. The PSNI said calm was restored to the area at around 1am. Mr Boutcher said: 'The scenes we have witnessed last night must be condemned in the strongest terms possible. 'This was blatant sectarian violence, plain and simple, and there is absolutely no justification for it in our society. 'These behaviours are criminal plain and simple, we will not accept them and will pursue those responsible with the full force of the law. 'Once again our courageous and dedicated officers have put themselves in harm's way to protect the local community in Derry/Londonderry and I want to pay the highest tribute to every single one of them. 'Fourteen brave officers were injured during the disorder last night, we all owe these officers a huge debt of thanks for what they do, they continue to display unwavering professionalism, courage, restraint and resolve. 'Those incredible officers made 11 arrests last night and I can promise that we will continue to arrest and prosecute those responsible, there will be consequences to those involved, we will not stand by and allow people to attack our society.' The Chief Constable said valuable police resources are being diverted to deal with 'mindless thuggery'. He added: 'This behaviour is shameful and will have been terrifying for residents, I am aware of older residents living in the immediate area who were massively traumatised by this disorder. 'I appeal to all our political representatives and anyone with influence in the area to stand up and condemn and stop this mindless violence. 'I strongly urge anyone who was involved in the rioting and disorder over the last two nights to see sense and think long and hard about their actions, its impact and the consequences for you and you community. It needs to stop now. 'I will be seeking the strongest custodial sentences for those involved in the recent disorder across Northern Ireland. 'There is no place for this in society and there must be the harshest consequences.' Mr Boutcher added: 'I want everyone to be assured that we are working tirelessly to identify those responsible, we will prosecute those involved. 'We are gathering evidence, CCTV and other footage of the disorder, and I invite anyone who has information, or who can help identify those responsible, is asked to contact police on 101. 'Images of those involved will be released so that they can be identified and when convicted of these crimes their images will also be released to the public. 'Those who choose to be involved are taking a decision to change their futures. Do not get involved.'
CTV News
5 days ago
- CTV News
‘Both humbled and grateful': Lethbridge police chief not guilty of misconduct
Lethbridge Police Service Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh has been found not guilty of misconduct An allegation of misconduct made against Lethbridge's top cop has been dismissed. Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh was found not guilty at a hearing on Monday. According to the Lethbridge Police Service, a former deputy chief alleged Mehdizadeh 'violated a public health order relating to cohorts during the COVID-19 pandemic by taking a civilian member out for lunch and denying culpability when he was confronted.' The civilian member was the police service's chaplain. Mehdizadeh took him out for lunch. An agreed statement of facts noted both were masked where required and properly socially distanced. It is also noted Mehdizadeh stated he believed the chaplain to be within his allowed cohort and apologized when it came to light he was not. At the hearing, presiding officer Brett Carlson provided reasoning for the not guilty verdict. 'There was no evidence of malicious intent or meaningful moral culpability,' he said. 'A moment of carelessness or error in judgment does not, by itself, constitute discreditable conduct requiring discipline.' Mehdizadeh said in a statement Monday he is 'both humbled and grateful.' He also said the allegation is part of a pattern of behaviour by his former deputy chief. 'Since leaving LPS in 2022, after a short period of time working together, the former deputy chief has made numerous allegations and complaints against me,' he said. 'None have been substantiated, and several have been dismissed outright as frivolous and vexatious.'
CTV News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Winnipeg police unit that targets repeat violent offenders averages an arrest per day
A Winnipeg Police Service shoulder badge is seen at a press conference in Winnipeg on Sept. 2, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski Dozens of violent criminals in Manitoba are being arrested, released, and then reoffending, only to be arrested again. The Manitoba Integrated Violent Offender Apprehension Unit was established in 2023, and it targets and closely monitors high-risk criminals. To date, the unit has made 730 arrests, which works out to about an average of one a day. A report to the police board, where Mayor Scott Gillingham is a member, showed 85 per cent of those apprehended were on bail, parole, or probation. 'This to me is the most disturbing part of the entire report,' said Gillingham. Police Chief Gene Bowers said those 700-plus arrests take a lot of effort and hours. 'There's homicide suspects in there, you know, they don't want to be found by the police, so there's a lot of work in that 700,' said Bowers. The numbers prompted the mayor to reiterate calls for tougher bail measures. 'We've got individuals who continue to perpetuate crime and cause terror in our city because they're out on bail. Like, we want those people to get well, but they're not getting well in my view, running around the city,' said Gillingham. Bowers echoed the sentiment and said it might be time to consider bringing back minimum sentences. 'If you talk about minimum sentences, which are no longer for firearms and weapons, use of machetes, that might be something that should be looked at as well, because of the seriousness of those types of offences,' said Bowers. In 2022, the then Trudeau government reversed mandatory minimums for some drug and firearm offences over concerns that Indigenous and Black offenders were more likely to be incarcerated for crimes under minimum sentencing laws. Christopher Gamby from the Criminal Defence Lawyers Association of Manitoba said there are constitutional considerations as well, as a crime might not fit the punishment. 'The legal firearm owner who now finds themselves doing something illegal, possibly unwittingly or by mistake, could be vulnerable to a three-year mandatory minimum,' said Gamby.
BBC News
13-06-2025
- BBC News
NI riots: Police release images of four individuals after disorder
The Police Service of Northern Ireland has released photos of four suspects they want the public to help identify after four nights of unrest in Northern disorder started on Monday after a peaceful protest over an alleged sexual assault in the County Antrim town but has spread to other said 63 of their officers have been injured over four nights of violence after coming under "sustained attack with heavy masonry and fireworks".ACC Ryan Henderson said: "It is in all of our interests and in the interests of justice that those responsible are dealt with." The first protest was organised hours after two teenage boys appeared before Coleraine Magistrates' spoke through an interpreter in Romanian to confirm their names and ages. Their solicitor said they would be denying the charges."In releasing these images, I am asking the wider community to step forward and help us to identify these people," ACC Henderson told a press conference on have made a total of 17 arrested following disorder in various parts of Northern message to those involved was: "We're actively taking steps to find you and we will bring you to justice.""Our public order inquiry team has been working night and day to identify those involved," he also said police are investigating "those posting hate on social media". The worst of the disorder was in Ballymena, but unrest also spread to other Portadown, County Armagh, on Thursday a crowd pulled bricks and masonry from a derelict building which they threw at Henderson said: "police came under significant and sustained attack from rioters. It was clear that those involved were intent on destroying homes and businesses within the town and on attacking police.""The police lines came under attack from heavy masonry, fireworks, petrol bombs and beer kegs," he added. In Larne, masked youths attacked a leisure centre and set it on fire on Wednesday. The centre had been providing emergency shelter for families following the clashes earlier this home of a family with three children was set on fire in Coleraine on Thursday night, in what ACC Henderson called: "an awful, hate-motivated attack".The constable appealed for "calm" over the coming weekend and said there will be a large police presence across Northern Ireland."For those thinking about causing disorder or coming to watch it, stay away, there will be consequences."
