LAST UPDATE | 4 hrs ago

THE PSNI HAS asked parents to speak to their children, as it has identified a “wider societal issue” after a group of youths attacked officers.

Two officers were struck and five police vehicles were damaged during the car meet-up in Belfast yesterday evening.

The PSNI said they “came under attack by youths throwing bottles and masonry” after it responded to numerous reports that large crowds of people and vehicles had gathered in west Belfast and were driving dangerously.

A fire was also started and the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service was attacked when they tried to respond, leading to their withdrawal from the area.

Images posted online showed a young person on top of a PSNI riot van, while others kicked the van and hurled masonry at it.

The injured officers were able to remain on duty, but the damaged police vehicles will be off the road until they can be repaired.

The PSNI today said: “Those who choose to get involved in this type of disorder are causing destruction within their own community. Their actions impact on their own families, friends and neighbours.

“There is also a wider societal issue to highlight, and we would particularly ask parents and guardians to speak to their children, and make sure that they do not become involved in something which could lead to someone getting seriously hurt.”

A local Sinn Féin MLA said he is “angry and sad” over a lack of “preventative measures” from the PSNI.

Yesterday at around 6.30pm, west Belfast MLA Danny Baker posted on social media that the proposed gathering on the Stewartstown Road area of west Belfast is “simply not acceptable”.

“Our community does not want cars travelling across the city for so called ‘meet ups’,” said Baker.

“People are going about their daily lives, and should not be being stuck in a convoy along the Stewartstown Road,” added Baker. “It is the last thing we need or want.”

It’s understood the car meet was organised in memory of a recently deceased man.

Later yesterday evening, Baker posted footage from the Stewartstown Road which showed cars performing doughnuts in the road, with people around filming.

“PSNI were well warned, and I asked for preventive measures,” said Baker. “They didn’t listen and failed in their duties. They didn’t prepare and left our community to pick up the pieces.”

He added that it was “shameful and unacceptable” for the PSNI not to take preventative measures.

“The PSNI knew about the event and didn’t take the necessary measures,” said Baker.

“I gave solutions, I was being proactive myself from late afternoon and gave up around 7.10pm because it was already out of control.”

In a follow-up post this morning, Baker said he is “angry and sad” that the “preventive measures from the PSNI that simply didn’t come”.

“Our community is getting a bad name, and much-fought-for resources are being destroyed,” said Baker.

“Adults involved in or turning a blind eye to their child’s behaviour need to have a long, hard look at themselves.

“We don’t want motorbikes flying up and down the road, or cars drifting and speeding. Enough is enough.”

In a statement today, the PSNI said its officers were in attendance from around 7.30pm and that some cars and scrambler bikes gathered in the area were engaging in dangerous driving.

Resources from across Belfast, and a Tactical Support Group unit which had been on deployment in another district, were dispatched to the area.

A PSNI chief inspector today acknowledged “local concern around this incident” and committed to engaging with representatives and residents to prevent further instances of this behaviour.

The chief inspector appealed to parents to “speak to their children and make sure that they do not become involved in something which could lead to someone getting seriously hurt”.

The chief inspector added that police will “use all powers available to them to ensure the safety of road users, including the power to seize vehicles”.

The PSNI’s Air Support Unit gathered evidence last night and the PSNI said this will now be reviewed.

“There will be consequences, by way of proactive arrests, for those identified as being involved,” said the PSNI.