West Belfast driver narrowly avoids injury after 'tarmac thrown at car'
A driver in West Belfast narrowly avoided serious injury after a "piece of tarmac" was allegedly thrown at his car by a group of youths.
The incident is reported to have taken place on Saturday, September 7, at around 10pm on the Stewartstown Road, close to the Colin Connect Transport Hub.
Speaking to Belfast Live, the driver, who did not wish to be named, said that he was driving along the Stewartstown Road on Saturday evening when he felt a hard object crash against his car as he was passing a children's playpark where a group of youths had gathered.
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He said that the group had "ripped up tarmac from the playpark" and were throwing it at passing vehicles. He said that he was lucky to escape serious injury during the incident as the piece of tarmac was an inch away from crashing through his window.
The driver said: "I am very lucky that I was not seriously hurt on Saturday evening and I am just thankful that my children were not in the car at the time, because it was about an inch away from going through my window.
"There was a group of kids in the playpark off Stewartstown Road close to the Colin Connect who were ripping up the tarmac in it and throwing it at cars as they went by. I am also aware of same thing happening to a woman who was driving there around the same time as me.
"There have been problems there for a while with children throwing stones and things at the Glider and buses, but now it seems they have moved on to attacking cars as well and if it is not stopped soon someone is going to be seriously hurt or killed."
Police have said they have not had any reports of cars being attacked on the Stewartstown Road on Saturday evening, but are aware of previous similar incidents in the area.
On Tuesday, September 3, the PSNI received reports of groups of youths aiming fireworks at people and vehicles in the Dunmurry area.
A PSNI spokesperson said: "Police received reports of a number of youths aiming fireworks at people and vehicles in the Dunmurry area shortly after 8pm on the evening of Tuesday 3rd September.
"Officers attended but were unable to locate the individuals involved. There were no reports of any injuries or damage caused. Enquiries are ongoing and officers would ask anyone with any information to contact them at Lisburn on 101 quoting reference number 1508 03/09/24."
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