Kevin Scott
July 24 2024 11:50 AM
Sinister graffiti has appeared overnight in west Belfast threatening workmen who intend carrying out repairs to a local homeless charity building.
The graffiti was daubed on a wall in the Divis area of west Belfast in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
It’s understood the wall was sprayed by the INLA in response to an attempted armed robbery in the Northumberland Street area on Monday afternoon.
Armed response officers attended the Welcome Organisation’s building in the Townsend Street area of west Belfast where two arrests were made in relation to the incident.
Just a few hours later a suspected stolen Volkswagen Golf was rammed into the charity’s building before being set alight.
Firefighters in breathing apparatus battled the blaze, which caused significant damage to the building.
Police Inspector Hamilton told the Belfast Telegraph ”Police are currently investigating after graffiti was daubed on a wall in the west Belfast area.
“Shortly after 1.20am this morning, Wednesday July 24, police received a report that graffiti of a threatening nature had been sprayed onto a wall in the Milford Close area.
"Anyone who noticed anything suspicious in the area is asked to make contact with police on 101.”
A significant police presence was in the greater Divis area on Wednesday morning after the appearance of the threats.
During the morning a wooden board was placed over the shutters of the charity building with no visible repair work appearing to be underway.
In a separate statement on Tuesday, the PSNI said: "Police are investigating an arson which caused significant damage to a charitable organisation's building in the Townsend Street area of west Belfast.
“Shortly after midnight, a Volkswagen Golf, which is suspected stolen, was rammed in reverse against the building's shutters and set alight. The driver ran from the scene and entry was not gained to the building.
“NI Fire and Rescue Service attended to extinguish the fire which has caused significant damage to the inside and outside of this section of the building.
“An investigation is underway and officers would appeal to anyone with any information to contact police on 101.”
Lord Mayor Micky Murray told the Belfast Telegraph on Tuesday: "The Welcome Organisation plays an essential role in homeless services in the city.
"The homeless sector here is already under-resourced and overworked and the only people that are being hurt by this service disruption today are the people who will be using this service.
"This is a senseless act of violence and arson on a service that is essential in supporting those who are most vulnerable in our city.”
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll said the Welcome Organisation provides a crucial drop-in and outreach service for homeless people.
"Whoever saw fit to ram a car into the centre has only set that important work back, and it is some of the most vulnerable who will suffer the consequences,” he said.
“This is not the first time the Welcome Organisation has been on the receiving end of such attacks and intimidation. Those responsible have nothing to offer working-class communities which have been blighted by poverty, alienation, and homelessness.
by Friendly-Fiasco
9 comments
Why is this happening? What am I missing?
Workmen fixing a homeless charity — an armed robbery
What is the link
In a nationalist area? Surely not? I’ve been led to believe by the majority of this sub that it’s all rainbow and unicorns in nationalist areas. I thought it was only in unionist areas this happened?
INLA have zero support in their “communities”.
Drug dealing scumbags. One next to me growing up had the bomb squad out every week as they took to murdering each other over drugs.
INLA drug dealers. The UDA in green and orange.
Absolute filth
troglodytes , why would you put a hyphen there
A friend of mine volunteered for a charity organisation that had a weekly table feeding the homless. She worked there for over a year. The food was normally donated from businesses from west belfast. Turns out the whole organisation was basically a front for raising money for the INLA. The organisation had money boxes in vasrious shops. I guess the money collected from that went to the organisation!
Good luck to anyone who thinks the INLA/IRSP will solve a drug problem in the area.