Republican dissident group claims it tried to kill loyalist in west Belfast – The Irish News

Kill bid abandoned after target failed to show up

By Connla Young, Crime and Security Correspondent

August 18, 2026 at 6:00am BST

Republican group Óglaigh na hÉireann (ÓNH) has claimed it tried to kill a loyalist in west Belfast earlier this month.

The dissident organisation, which has previously threatened to take action against loyalist paramilitaries, claimed the failed murder bid was a ‘one-off’ and its ceasefire remains intact.

It is believed to be the first time ÓNH, or any anti-agreement republican group, has attempted to kill an identified loyalist.

In a statement using a recognised codeword, the group, which called a ceasefire in 2018, said the alleged loyalist, who has been named, was targeted close to St Peter’s Cathedral in the west of the city on Sunday August 9.

The intended target has been accused of ‘gathering intelligence’ on republicans.

It is claimed the target is linked to a loyalist cell based in the Annadale Embankment area of south Belfast – a known UDA stronghold.

ÓNH has also issued a death threat against a second named loyalist who it is claimed has also been involved in gathering information.

The target of the threat is suspected by ÓNH of being involved with the breakaway South East Antrim UDA faction.

It is claimed both individuals named by ÓNH are known to each other.

It is understood an attempt was made to lure the murder bid target, who works part-time as a delivery driver for a Chinese restaurant, into an ambush after a bogus order was placed.

The fast food outlet, which is based in south Belfast, makes deliveries into the lower Falls area of the city.

It is claimed the attempt to kill was abandoned when the driver failed to show up with a delivery to an address close to St Peter’s Cathedral over a week ago.

The alleged loyalist has also been accused of using both his fast food delivery role and regular job as courier driver to gather information in republican areas.

It is claimed he was recently observed taking photographs of a republican funeral cortege as it left St Peter’s Cathedral.

In 2022 ÓNH used an Easter statement to issue a threat against loyalist leadership figures if nationalists or republicans were attacked as part of a Brexit-linked anti-protocol campaign that was ongoing at the time.

Republicans believe they were being targeted by loyalists at that time.

The group claimed the abandoned gun attack was cleared by its “command”.

“We are not going to sit back for them to come to us,” it said.

“If we have to go down that road to protect republicans then we will go down that road.”

SDLP Policing Board member Colin McGrath said: “News that groups are carrying out surveillance and counter-surveillance on each other and that threats to kill have been issued is a sinister turn of events that harks back to a dark time from our history.

“The overwhelming and greater majority of people here have moved on from this type of behaviour and the motivation for it, and I would urge those involved to desist and to move away from these actions,” he added.

“People want to live peacefully and without fear - the actions of a few cannot be allowed to impact the many.”

Although on ceasefire, in recent years ÓNH has been linked to a string of gun and other attacks against alleged drug dealers.

It was also responsible for shooting and injuring senior Republican Network for Unity figure Sean O’Reilly in 2024 as part of an ongoing feud.

Earlier this month it claimed to have manufactured a large number of 3D-printed versions of the Glock pistol.

Man detained in Belfast allegedly convicted of rape in Dublin under different name – The Irish Times

Belfast High Court hears European Arrest Warrant for man being prepared in Republic

A man detained in Belfast following an international police hunt was allegedly convicted of rape in Dublin under a different name, the High Court in Belfast heard today.

Prosecutors claimed Teklemariam Lijam (42) used separate identities in a bid to mislead the authorities about his criminal past.

The Eritrean national, of no fixed abode, faces new charges of failing to register as a sex offender, providing false information to police, and perverting the course of justice.

Refusing bail, chief justice of Northern Ireland Siobhan Keegan ruled there were no conditions under which he could be safely released.

The court heard Lijam was arrested in March this year after Interpol requested help from the PSNI to establish the whereabouts of a high-risk sex offender using the name Bereket Mekonnen.

Mekonnen was wanted for not notifying Irish authorities about a change of address after serving a jail sentence imposed in 2007 for a rape offence.

Fingerprints held on record for him matched those of Lijam, Crown counsel disclosed.

She said the defendant arrived in the United Kingdom in 2024 but was later prosecuted for a separate exposure offence.

“Police believe his name and date of birth is false, and that he is in fact the individual convicted of rape in Dublin,” the barrister submitted.

“He deliberately did not provide the name used in the south of Ireland in order to mislead the courts [here].”

During interviews, Lijam did not deny that the individual in a photograph accompanying a newspaper article from the earlier case was him, but could not confirm the content was correct because it was not in his language.

With Home Office checks still being carried out to establish his correct details, the court heard a European Arrest Warrant is also being prepared in the Republic of Ireland.

Opposing bail, counsel added: “He goes by two different identities, and police have reasonable grounds to doubt whether or not he has furnished his real name.”

Kelly Doherty, defending, disputed claims her client had perverted the course of justice and could flee from the jurisdiction, citing his refugee status in the UK.

“He fled Eritrea to avoid military service and if he were to return his life would be in danger,” she said.

Bail was denied, however, based on concerns Lijam could reoffend or abscond.

Belfast Glider driver says family subjected to two years of ‘intimidation’ before race hate attack that left children injured – The Irish News

Torki Al Omare was at home with his wife and three children when a group of masked youths attacked their home with stones, breaking windows and causing minor injuries to two of the children

A Glider bus driver and Syrian national says his family were forced out of their home after a two-year campaign of intimidation which led to a race hate attack on Sunday night.

Torki Al Omare was at home with his wife and three children aged 11, 9 and 7 on Sunday night in Holywood when a group of masked youths attacked their home with stones, breaking windows and causing minor injuries to two of the children.

Police are treating the incident on Church Green as a racially motivated hate crime.

Mr Al Omare and his family have since moved out of their property and the bus driver says he will not return to the local area and plans to move his wife and children to west Belfast.

He told the Irish News that relations between his family and a number of residents of the Holywood housing estate had not been good in the two years since they moved in.

Mr Al Omare and his family moved to Northern Ireland nine years ago.

“This has been going on for the last two years,” he said.

“People in the estate attacked us, they spoke about religion and skin colour. They hit my wife because she was wearing a hijab.

“I was told not to let my children play in the estate and that we were not welcome here.

“The children are feeling very bad, very scared.

“I will never go back to that house or to Holywood or east Belfast because I don’t feel safe there.

“I feel safer in west Belfast and I hope to be there soon.”

Mr Al Omare said he had reported various incidents of alleged intimidation and abuse to the PSNI on at least 16 occasions in the last two years.

He added that one young person had threatened one family member that they would “kill your family”.

Footage of an altercation between members of his family and a number of other individuals in Holywood was shared on social media on Sunday, including accounts associated with anti-immigration networks.

He said his daughter had experienced “severe psychological distress” as a result of the incident.

Mr Al Omare’s wife Saja said she believes the attack on their home on Sunday night was “planned in advance”.

“No family should ever have to experience such fear, violence and intimidation simply for trying to keep their children safe,” she said.

The PSNI have described the attack on the family home as “utterly unacceptable and has no place in our society”.

The force said it had received a second report of a connected attack on a home on the same night. Two windows were smashed at the property while a quantity of cash was also stolen in the second attack.

“We are treating both of these reports as racially-motivated hate crimes, with our enquiries continuing into what happened, and who was involved,” a spokesperson said.

“This type of crime is utterly unacceptable and has no place in our society. Everyone has the right to feel safe in their home, regardless of their race or background.”

Alliance MLA Andrew Muir has described the race hate attacks as “repugnant”.

“Holywood is a shared and inclusive place, and this kind of violence and intimidation does not reflect the views of the vast majority of people in the town who are absolutely appalled to see this occur,” the North Down MLA said.

North Belfast: Man arrested after stand-off with police - BBC News

Vehicles were damaged during the incident which took place in the early hours of Tuesday

A 42-year-old man has been arrested after a reported assault and two hour stand-off in north Belfast, during which seven cars were damaged and an officer was injured.

Police received a report shortly after 00:00 BST on Tuesday that a woman had been assaulted at a house on Lepper Street.

After police officers, an Armed Response Unit and a trained negotiator were sent to the scene, the man was detained at about 02:20.

He was arrested on suspicion of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and assault on police.

The man remains in custody.

What happened?

When officers arrived at the scene they spoke to a woman and another man, both of them had facial injuries.

The suspect was found in a wardrobe in the property. He threatened officers with a knife which forced them to withdraw to protect the other man and woman.

An Armed Response Unit was sent to the scene and the suspect then climbed onto the roof.

He threw the knife at officers, and then started to remove and throw roof tiles in their direction.

An incapacitant spray was used to subdue the man but he continued to throw the tiles, which resulted in an officer being taken to hospital with a suspected fractured arm.

With the help of a trained negotiator the man was brought down from the roof and was arrested.

'Considerable damage'

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said "considerable damage" was caused to the property and seven vehicles were "substantially damaged".

Five of the vehicles belonged to the police and two are owned by uninvolved members of the public.

A police investigation is underway and enquiries continue in the area on Tuesday.

PSNI Insp Knowles said the man's actions "placed officers and nearby members of the public at risk".

"There was the potential to cause life-changing or even fatal injury to those present," he added.

Police are appealing for anyone with footage or information to come forward.

Stewartstown Road: PSNI launch major incident portal after west Belfast weekend disorder | Belfast Live

The scenes have been widely condemned by police and politicians

Police have launched a major incident public portal as part of their investigation after weekend scenes of disorder and the reckless riding of scramblers in west Belfast.

A police officer was injured, and several PSNI vehicles were damaged in the incidents on Saturday, July 18.

The PSNI said a planned policing operation was in place on Saturday following reports of dangerous driving that morning, when a large number of young people were seen travelling dangerously and at speed on scrambler-type bikes in the wider Stewartstown Road and Falls Road areas.

The riders had their faces partially covered, weren’t wearing helmets and were driving without care for their safety or for those around them.

Resources from across Belfast, along with a Tactical Support Group (TSG) unit, were subsequently dispatched to the area, with evidence-gathering taking place to identify those responsible.

As part of the disorder, bins and loading cages were placed across the junction of Stewartstown Road and Bell Steel Road, some of which were set on fire. This resulted in the road being closed for a time, with the public advised to avoid the area.Large crowds of up to 100 people – many aged in their early teens – also gathered and began throwing masonry at police. Eleven police vehicles were subsequently damaged on Saturday evening – including 10 Land Rovers and one car – while one officer was assaulted.In an attempt to halt the drivers, police deployed stingers on a number of vehicles and a scrambler was subsequently seized. Its 17-year-old rider was interviewed for dangerous driving, no licence, no insurance and no number plate, with a report to be submitted to the Public Prosecution Service.To date, a 27-year-old man has been charged with disorderly behaviour and is due to appear before Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Friday, August 14.A 22-year-old man, arrested in connection with a serious assault on Saturday night involving iron bars, has been released on bail to allow for further police enquiries.A 14-year-old boy, arrested on Sunday, July 19, on suspicion of offences including riot and disorderly behaviour, has since been released, pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS).In addition to the three arrests made on Saturday night, a 31-year-old man and a woman, aged 42, were charged on Tuesday, July 14, with a number of offences in relation to a report of three non-legal scramblers being ridden dangerously in the Stewartstown Road area. A 17-year-old male was also cautioned for a number of motoring offences following this incident.

PSNI Chief Inspector Kelly Gibson, West Belfast Area Commander, said: “We know the local community is very concerned about what took place in west Belfast on Saturday night – and of ongoing antisocial behaviour in the area.“We’re continuing to progress our investigation and to review evidence from the weekend. As such, we intend to make further arrests following these shameful scenes.“Our targeted patrols will subsequently continue in the Stewartstown Road and surrounding areas to detect offenders on bikers who are driving illegally.“We would reiterate our appeal to parents and guardians to speak to their young people and warn them of the dangers of getting involved in behaviour which could result in them obtaining a criminal record.“We’d also ask that the community continues to report the illegal and dangerous driving of scrambler-type bikes so we can help to make our roads safer for everyone. The safety of local communities is paramount and our officers have been working closely alongside our partner agencies, local representatives and the community to address these problems.”Any photos or digital footage, including CCTV, mobile phone or dash-cam footage, can now be shared with police through the Major Incident Public Portal here: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/PSNI26W20-PO1Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with information can contact police using our witness appeal form at https://reporting.psni.police.uk/appeals, quoting reference 346 of 18/07/26, or call us on 101. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.

Delivery driver's face cut with a knife during Co Down attack | Belfast Live

The man needed hospital treatment for his injuries

A delivery driver in Newtownards was attacked by a group of males who cut his face with a knife before robbing him.

Police are investigating the incident which took place at around 1am on Sunday, July 19, in the Landsdowne Road area of the town. It is alleged that a delivery driver stopped his car on the road before three males attacked him.

He later required hospital treatment for the cut to his face.

A PSNI spokesperson said: "Police in Newtownards are investigating the report of a robbery in the Landsdowne Road area of the town in the early hours of Sunday 19 ^(th) July.

"It was reported that at around 1am a male delivery driver stopped his car in Landsdowne Road and was attacked by three males who cut the man’s face with a knife and stole a sum of money from his car before making off on foot. The man required hospital treatment for the cut to his face.

"Officers would ask anyone who witnessed this incident, or who may have captured dash-cam or CCTV footage from the area which could help with their investigation, to call them at Newtownards on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 119 18/07/26. A report can be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or you can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/."

Manhunt continues for NI prisoner unlawfully at large for three weeks | Belfast Live

Jonathon White is 6ft 2" tall and speaks with a Birmingham accent

The PSNI have issued a renewed appeal to locate a prisoner who is believed to be unlawfully at large in Northern Ireland.

Jonathon White, who is 6ft 2" tall and speaks with a Birmingham accent, is understood to have been recalled to prison on 27th June after his license was revoked.

The PSNI first appealed for the public's help in locating him in a social media post last weekend, but have today issued a new appeal through the media.

A PSNI spokesperson said: "This is Jonathon White. He is wanted for revocation of his licence and has been recalled to prison.

"Mr White is approximately 6’2”, of medium build, with a shaved head; he is clean shaven and has blue eyes. He also speaks with a Birmingham accent.

"If you know where he is, please get in touch immediately. DO NOT leave a public comment with information on his whereabouts.

"Call 101 or phone the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111. The Op Relentless reference number is 78 27/06/26"