Seven PSNI officers assaulted in 'difficult 24 hours'

Seven police officers have been assaulted during five separate incidents while they were policing music festivals in Belfast on Sunday.

The assaults included a bite on the arm and a serious knee injury, both of which left two officers unable to continue with their duties.

All of the assaults took place in the vicinity of the Emerge festival at Boucher Road Playing Fields and the CHSq gig at Custom House Square.

Ch Insp Andy George said the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) was "supporting these officers following a difficult 24 hours in the city".

"Officers put themselves on the front line to help keep people safe - they do not deserve to be assaulted for simply doing their job," he added.

Three of the officers were attacked at the Boucher Road event, when they approached a teenage boy who had been seen with bottles of alcohol.

"When spoken to by officers he became aggressive - kicking one officer to the leg and another in his groin area," George said.

"A third officer was also kicked in the struggle while the teenager was being arrested for assault on police and disorderly behaviour."

In the same area, an officer was struck in the face when police challenged a 22-year-old man whom they suspected of hiding drugs.

The officer was knocked to the ground as a result of the attack, where he sustained further injury to his arm.

The other three assaults took place in the Custom House Square area, including an attack in which an "aggressive male" bit an officer on the arm.

"The officer's skin was broken - causing significant injury - and he was unable to continue on duty," George explained.

Another officer needed hospital treatment when he was attacked from behind at Custom House Square, sustaining a serious injury to the back of his knee.

The third attack in the area involved an "aggressive and verbally abusive" man who attempted to punch an officer and was subsequently charged with assault on police.

"All of these shameful attacks on our officers will be investigated rigorously - and we have two people charged to appear before Belfast Magistrates' Court next month as a result of their disgraceful actions," George said.

He added that "assaults across 24 hours from just one policing district in Northern Ireland, shows the often grim reality of what our officers on the ground are facing each and every day, and the courage and professionalism with which they serve our communities".