FIGHTING MOBS

Evening Star, Issue 21231, 12 October 1932, Page 6

FIGHTING MOBS

RIOTS IN BELFAST POLICE PATROL IN ARMOURED CARS MAN KILLED AND MANY INJURES Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright BELFAST, October 11.. (Received October 12, at 12.45 p.ra.)' Day-long unemployed rioting culminated 1 in fighting between the police and the mob, in which Samuel Baxter, aged thirty, was killed. The authorities are imposing curfew between 11' p.m. and 5 a.m. Anyone found on the streets will be arrested. The police, reinforced with country constables, by repeated baton charges and patrolling in armoured cans, suppressed thp morning attempts to organise a march of 80,000 upon the workhouse to demand higher unemployed relief. The rioters attempted to stop the trams and buses by barricades, stoning and injuring the drivers and conductors. A stone throwing mob attempted to rescue three leaders who were being conveyed to the police station by an armoured car. They were dispersed by police charges.

The disturbanc.es were more serious in the afternoon when Falls road was barricaded. The police were bombarded with numerous missiles. Many shop windows* were broken and looting was widespread. Armed reinforcements arrived and fired in reply to sniping from the mob, which dispersed, leaving Baxter, who was reported to have taken no part in the rioting, dead. Fighting was renewed in the evening. Many were taken to hospital, including twelve with, bullet wounds. Two of the injured are in a critical condition. Non-participants in the rioting, who were shot, include a man who was taking his son to school and a boy from a workshop. The mob dug trendies and barricaded the streets. They seized a corporation bus, ejected the passengers, and drove off in the vehicle. They also looted a lorry carrying stout. Six armed civilians seized a policeman and stole his revolver and ammunition. All trams and bus.es were stopped. Thousands congregated in the streets, which two thousand armed police are patrolling. A cordon has been drawn round the city, preventing entrance. MORE AFFRAYS AT NIGHT TERRIFIC ONSLAUGHT WITH‘STSNIS RELIEF OF DISTRESS DEMANDED BELFAST, October 11, (Received October 12, at 1.35 p.m.),'., TJiree incendiary fires broke out after 10 o’clock at night. Many women, shouting “We must have bread, ’’ participated in a terrifio onslaught with stones in the Fails district in the afternoon.

Rioters burned the corporation’s huts* smashed sewer pipes, and road-repairing implements. Fighting in the evening was followed by further attempts at looting. One hundred and fifty police, armed with rifles and bayonets, were marching through the disturbed areas when they were sniped at. They replied i with rifles, aided by armoured oars and searchlights, which were necessary as the street lamps were smashed.

The casualties include fourteen suffering from bullet wounds and four policemen who were stoned.

The Lord Mayor, has called a special meeting to demand that the Government should promptly relieve distress and starvation among the unemployed, who are contending that the wages under relief schemes are inadequate.