The burned out car of the Shantallow family who have been forced to leave their home due to anti-social behaviour in the area.
The people of the Shantallow area of Derry “must stand up and face down” the anti-social elements who have forced a local family flee their home, Tony Hassan, Sinn Fein councillor for the area, has said.
Cllr Hassan was speaking after the burning of a second car in the area within 48 hours.
The latest vehicle was torched on Racecourse Road last night close to where a car was burned out on Saturday night last.
On that occasion, a family’s car was taken from outside their home in Greenhaw Terrace and set on fire on nearby Racecourse Road – up to 60 youths were involved in the incident.
A 13-year-old boy and 16-year-old teenager were arrested following the incident.
It has emerged the family concerned have been forced to flee their home as a result of intimidation.
Condemning those responsible, Cllr Hassan said such incidents – which are not believed to be connected – were having a “terrible impact” on local residents, adding the local community “must stand up and face down the anti social elements in the area by working with all agencies including the PSNI.
He added: “This is normally a very quiet community and these incidents are certainly not the norm so it is therefore important that we nip this behaviour in the bud.
“The community needs to come together and work with all the agencies including Housing Executive, PSNI and community leaders in order to tackle this problem.”
Cllr Hassan appealed to anyone who had information about the incidents to bring it forward to the police.
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