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Police have defended their response to two incidents in north Belfast on Wednesday night saying their aim was to “establish what has occurred, protect the community and secure opportunities to identify those responsible”.<\/b><\/p>\n
Officers responded to a report that a house in the Ardoyne area had been attacked by a number of people, which police are treating as a racially-motivated hate crime.<\/p>\n
A short time later, police received a report of a crash on Alliance Avenue, as well as reports of masked men in the wider area.<\/p>\n
Local councillor Paul McCusker has criticised the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), saying officers left shortly after arriving in the area.<\/p>\n
The house, on Jamaica Street, was empty when it was attacked at around 22:20 BST.<\/p>\n
Windows had been smashed and white paint was thrown at the property by three men armed with hammers, police were told.<\/p>\n
“Officers attended the scene and engaged with local residents and community representatives, before an operational decision was taken not to retain officers at the vacant property while repairs to secure the premises were awaited,” PSNI North Belfast District Commander Supt Allister Hagan said in a statement on Friday. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n