Lancashire police officers sent to Northern Ireland after attempted Belfast 'beheading'
12 police officers were injured during a second night of unrest.
Police officers from Lancashire Constabulary have been deployed to Northern Ireland to help deal with public unrest following an attempted beheading.
Lancashire Police said: “We can confirm we are sending some resources but wouldn’t go into further details for operational reasons”, when asked by the Post for details.
The BBC has reported that 200 ‘mutual aid’ officers from forces across the UK have been sent to Northern Ireland following an outbreak of public disorder in Belfast and surrounding areas.
The protests and violence were sparked after a man was left with serious injuries, including losing an eye, after being attacked in north Belfast on Monday night.
A 30-year-old Sudanese man has appeared in Belfast Magistrates' Court charged with attempted murder.
The family of the victim, Stephen Ogilvie, said they did not want this "terrible tragedy to be used to divide people or fuel hostility," and apppealed for privacy. And on Wednesday afternoon, Chief Constable Jon Boutcher insisted those responsible for the disorder will be dealt with according to the law.
Injuries
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said 12 police officers were injured and 16 arrests were made in the second night of unrest on Wednesday, but he was "glad to say that last night there was less disorder than we witnessed on Tuesday night", as he condemned the "racist thuggery" seen in the wake of Monday's stabbing assault which left the victim in hospital.
Lancashire Police have confirmed none of their officers were injured.