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Belfast Live
National
Lauren Harte

UDA feud: Four further arrests as PSNI issue update after 11 homes attacked in Ards and North Down

Police have made a further four arrests following a series of attacks on properties in Co Down.

A senior police officer has also revealed that members of drugs gangs involved in the ongoing feud are expelled members of the UDA.

The arrests follow a gathering of masked men in Newtownards on Thursday as the PSNI confirmed there have now been 11 attacks in the dispute linked to rival loyalist factions.

Read more: Loyalist Communities Council and PSNI release statements after UDA feud attacks

Properties in the Ards and North Down area have been targeted in recent days, including a pipe bomb attack on a house where four children were inside.

The PSNI said that to date 11 homes across Newtownards, Bangor, Ballywalter and Donaghadee have been attacked.

These have included petrol bomb attacks, windows being smashed with hammers and bricks, and the pipe bomb attack.

There have also been attempted hijackings and graffiti daubed on properties. In the latest incident, a petrol bomb was thrown at a house in Donaghadee on Wednesday night.

A three-year-old girl was in a house that was attacked on Tuesday night, while the property of an elderly woman was also targeted in a case of mistaken identity.

PSNI Superintendent Johnston McDowell told a media briefing on Thursday afternoon that the attacks are linked to a feud between drugs gangs.

He said: "We continue to work tirelessly day and night to bring those responsible to justice. This afternoon we arrested four men in Newtownards.

"The arrests were made after a group of individuals, some of whom were masked, made their way into Weaver's Grange after gathering at the courthouse at Regent Street this morning.

"Today's arrests bring the total number of people arrested to 10 - that is 10 arrested in connection with attacks on homes by rival factions previously linked to the UDA."

He added: "To date, 11 properties across Bangor, Newtownards, Donaghadee and Ballywalter have been subject to attack, many of these were the homes of young children.

"We have implemented a robust policing operation to both investigate these attacks and to deter further incidents of violence to families and homes.

"These attacks are completely unacceptable and incredibly reckless and place our communities at grave risk. We don't want to see an escalation of violence between these gangs.

"Along with high-visibility patrols, with both our neighbourhood and local policing teams, we are utilising the specialist expertise of armed response unit officers and tactical support group officers working closely with our colleagues in the Paramilitary Crime Task Force to counter the threat posed by these gangs.

"I am also aware of speculation and misinformation circulating both locally and online, particularly with regard to the presence of masked men in local schools.

"I can reassure local people that nothing of this nature has been reported to police."

Police have increased their presence in the Bangor and Newtownards area in response to the recent attacks. Two people have appeared in court on charges linked to earlier incidents.

Referring to the feuding gang members, Supt McDowell said: "They are expelled members of what would have been south-east Antrim UDA and west Belfast UDA. Our assessment would be that they are drugs gangs and this is a feud between rival drugs gangs."

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