A bus has been hijacked and set on fire in north Belfast this evening, the Police Service of Northern Ireland has confirmed.
The PSNI said on Twitter: "Police received a report of a hijacking incident in the Church Road area of Newtownabbey at around 7.45pm this evening.
"It was reported that four men got onto the bus and ordered passengers off before the bus was then set alight.
"Church Road is currently closed and diversions are in place. Police would ask members of the public to avoid the area."
Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly condemned the incident as "dangerous, reckless and despicable". He added: "There is absolutely no place in our society for this criminality and violence.
"We need to see clear condemnation from unionist leaders tonight of this violence and further attempts to stir up tensions."
SDLP Deputy Leader Nichola Mallon, who is an MLA in North Belfast, described the hijacking as "madness".
"Translink NI buses are paid for and owned by the people of Northern Ireland," she said on Twitter.
"Without them people can't get to and from work, or school, or hospital appointments. Our bus drivers are working class people who deserve to be safe in their jobs. What does this madness achieve?!"
.@Translink_NI buses are paid for & owned by the people of Northern Ireland. Without them people can't get to & from work, or school, or hospital appointments. Our bus drivers are working class people who deserve to be safe in their jobs. What does this madness achieve?! pic.twitter.com/fX7B9EP5aC
— Nichola Mallon (@NicholaMallon) November 7, 2021
Last Monday a bus was hijacked and burned in a loyalist area of Newtownards, Co Down, in an apparent protest against the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Disorder also broke out at a community interface in west Belfast twice last week.
The violence involving youths from the nationalist Springfield Road and loyalist Shankill Road saw police being attacked with missiles and fireworks on Wednesday and Friday night.
Wednesday's disorder followed a protest against the protocol.
Minister for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne, commented on Twitter: "Another bus dreadfully set on fire in Belfast. All of us must work together to bring stability to Northern Ireland, end uncertainty and ensure the people of violence do not succeed."
