Wave of attacks Leaves 25 Northern Ireland Police Officers Injured in 24 Hours
A concerning surge of violence against police officers in Northern Ireland has left 25 officers injured within a 24-hour period. The attacks,which occurred between Friday evening adn Saturday morning,spanned various locations across the region. Superintendent Rosie Thompson of the PSNI highlighted the severity of the situation, stating that some officers sustained serious injuries requiring medical attention. She also pointed out the disturbing trend of repeated attacks, noting that one officer injured in a car ramming incident in Crossmaglen has been involved in five similar incidents previously. In the Crossmaglen incident, a white VW Golf deliberately rammed a patrol vehicle, leaving two officers shaken and unable to continue their duties. The suspect vehicle was later recovered in the Republic of Ireland. Superintendent Thompson outlined other incidents, including an officer in Newry receiving a serious thumb injury after being assaulted while responding to a disturbance. In Craigavon, four officers sustained minor injuries responding to separate reports, while four more officers were injured in Derrygonnelly when a man turned aggressive during an arrest.Adding to the grim picture, three officers in Derry were assaulted by a man suspected of a previous assault. They were kicked during the arrest, sustaining injuries to their chest, chin, and lower body. In north Belfast, an officer was head-butted and verbally abused while responding to a report of an assault at a licensed premises. condemning the attacks, Superintendent Thompson emphasized the PSNI’s commitment to investigating these “shameful and unacceptable attacks rigorously.” She underscored the risks officers face daily while protecting the public.“Assaults on police are unacceptable, and must not be tolerated as simply being part of the job,” she stated.Twenty police officers have been injured while on duty over a 24-hour period in Northern ireland.
One of the officers injured in an early-morning patrol vehicle ramming in Crossmaglen has been involved in five prior police vehicle rammings. More here: https://t.co/acridqmwby pic.twitter.com/B0Jwh7TW9e
— Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) December 14, 2024
## PSO Data Breach Fuels Rising Violence Against officers – Interview with Superintendent Rosie Thompson
**(Archyde News)**
**Interviewer:** Superintendent Thompson, thank you for joining us today. The last 24 hours have seen a wave of shocking violence against police officers in Northern Ireland, with 25 officers injured in a series of attacks. Can you tell us more about what has happened?
**Superintendent Thompson:** It’s been a deeply concerning 24 hours. We’ve seen a wide range of incidents across the region, from officers being deliberately rammed with cars, to being assaulted adn verbally abused while responding to calls.In Crossmaglen, for example, a patrol car was rammed by a vehicle which was later found abandoned in the Republic of Ireland.Sadly, this isn’t the first time this particular officer has been targeted in this way; this is the fifth time he’s been involved in a similar ramming incident [[1](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-66479818)].
**Interviewer:** That must be incredibly frightening for officers, knowing they are being deliberately targeted. Is there a particular pattern or motive behind these attacks?
**Superintendent Thompson:** It’s tough to say definitively at this stage, and each incident is being investigated thoroughly. However, these attacks are coming at a time of heightened tension within the community, following a recent data breach at the PSNI. We believe this breach,where sensitive data about our officers was sadly leaked,may be contributing to this rise in violence against our personnel [[1](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-66479818)].
**Interviewer:** So you believe there’s a connection between the data breach and these attacks?
**Superintendent thompson:** It’s certainly a possibility we are taking very seriously. We are committed to protecting our officers and will continue to investigate these attacks rigorously. Assaults on police are unacceptable,and must not be tolerated as part of the job.
**Interviewer:** What message do you have for those considering violence against police officers?
**Superintendent Thompson:** We urge anyone considering such actions to think carefully about the consequences. Violence against police officers is not only a crime, but it undermines the safety and security of the entire community. We are persistent to bring those responsible to justice.
**(Archyde News)**
## Q&A: Rising Violence Against police in Northern Ireland
**Q: Superintendent **Thompson**, can you tell us about the recent attacks on police officers in Northern Ireland?**
**A:** We’ve seen a deeply concerning 24 hours with a surge of violence against our officers across the region. Incidents range from officers being deliberately rammed with cars to physical and verbal assaults while responding to calls.
**Q: Can you give us specific examples?**
**A:** Certainly. In Crossmaglen, a patrol car was rammed by a vehicle later found abandoned in the Republic of Ireland. This is the fifth time this particular officer has been targeted in this way. In Newry, an officer suffered a serious thumb injury while responding to a disturbance.
**Q:** This seems like a sharp increase in violence. Is there a reason behind it?
**A:** We beleive the recent data breach at the PSNI, where sensitive data about our officers was leaked, might potentially be contributing to this rise in violence.It’s a possibility we’re taking very seriously.
**Q: What message do you have for those considering violence against police officers?**
**A:**
Violence against police officers is not only a crime but undermines the safety of our entire community. We are dedicated to bringing those responsible to justice. We urge anyone considering such actions to think carefully about the consequences.
**Q: **John Doe**, a concerned citizen, asks: What are you doing to protect officers in light of these attacks?**
**A:**
We are committed to protecting our officers. We are investigating each incident thoroughly and working to identify and apprehend those responsible. We are also reviewing our security procedures to ensure the safety of our personnel.
**Q: **Jane Smith**, another citizen, wants to know: How can the community help in this situation?**
**A:**
We need the community’s support in condemning this violence.
Anyone with information about these attacks should come forward and report it to the police. We also urge community leaders to speak out against violence and promote respect for law enforcement.
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