Weapons seized after Banbridge disturbance - five arrests made

Police have come in for praise after a 'large-scale disturbance' in Banbridge's Limewood area ended with five arrests and officers seizing a number of edged weapons.
By The Newsroom
Published 21st Jun 2016, 10:40 BST
Updated 25th Aug 2016, 20:15 BST
An array of edged weapons seized by police following a Monday morning disturbance in the Limewood area of Banbridge. The 10-pence coin gives an idea of the size of the blades.An array of edged weapons seized by police following a Monday morning disturbance in the Limewood area of Banbridge. The 10-pence coin gives an idea of the size of the blades.
An array of edged weapons seized by police following a Monday morning disturbance in the Limewood area of Banbridge. The 10-pence coin gives an idea of the size of the blades.

Officers from Banbridge, Armagh and Lurgan attended the Monday morning “domestic” incident, in which no-one was badly hurt, though police stressed the weapons concerned could easily have killed.

“Thankfully, even with the array of weaponry being used, there were no serious injuries,” they said on social media. “We have five arrested, assisting us with enquiries . . . If you live in Limewood and haven’t yet spoken to us and can be of any assistance in helping us piece this together, please call us on 101, quoting incident 321 of 20/06/16.

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“These weapons could have killed today, easily. We’re glad to get them off the street . . .”

Upper Bann MLA Carla Lockhart was among those to priase the PSNI for what she called its proactive approach to the disturbance.

“I want to pay tribute to the police officers involved in this successful operation,” she said. “Not only have dangerous weapons been taken off the street but five people were also arrested.

“There can be no justifiable reason for anyone to carry these weapons on their person and it is very welcome for the residents of Limewood and the greater Banbridge area that they are now in the possession of the PSNI.

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“I have spoken with the PSNI and my understanding is that this is a domestic issue and that extra resources are being deployed to deal with the situation.

“I would ask anyone who has any information about this incident to contact the police via the 101 number.”

There was praise too from residents online, amid hopes that the incident was a one-off, and police, though relying on the public, they said, to continue reporting suspicious or violent activity, answered a call to “get the PSNI back into Banbridge police station” by insisting they had never been out of Banbridge.

“Yes,” they said. “Some of your local officers parade for briefing in Lurgan, but after that they’re straight over and are in Banbridge all shift.

“Yesterday, two crews were on scene within five minutes of being dispatched . . .”

Related topics:BanbridgePoliceCarla LockhartPSNIArmagh