Baggott difende intervento PSNI a Newtownabbey
Baggott defends Newtownabbey riot response
The Chief Constable has defended police tactics surrounding the rioting in Newtownabbey last week.
Two bus drivers were assaulted and their vehicles were hijacked during the serious disturbances, which happened on the edge of the Rathcoole estate.
No arrests were made during the rioting, leading to criticism of how the PSNI dealt with the situation.
However, at a Policing Board meeting on Thursday, Chief Constable Matt Baggott defended the response and reiterated the PSNI’s belief that members of the UVF were involved in the trouble.
“Yes, there were individuals who could be labelled as UVF involved and undoubtedly were behind those disturbances,” he told the Policing Board.
“However, there were other individuals who put a lot of effort into calming it down and making sure they were not involved in the disorder,” he said.
He also revealed that 27 witness statements have been taken and CCTV footage from nine locations is being studied.