Five lorries hit in road attacks

Five lorries were attacked by stone throwers

Five lorry drivers narrowly escaped injury when the windscreens of their lorries were smashed by stones thrown at them on a Belfast road.

Two other vehicles were also damaged during the incident on the Westlink on Wednesday.

One driver was in his car with his wife when they were targeted.

"It nearly caused an accident. It was the second time that it happened in the last two years. My wife had to go to hospital for shock," he said.

"It was like a slab in your garden - a half of one of those came down - and it damaged my car."

Two people have been killed in similar incidents over the years.

Police said if a major tragedy was to be avoided, this type of anti-social behaviour had to be addressed.

They believe young children may be involved in sporadic stone throwing close to bridges and walkways.

Robert McClenaghan appealed to parents

Robert McClenaghan, Falls Residents Association said: "We are dealing with a small number of young people involved in this activity.

"Therefore I am appealing to the parents. Do they know where their children are, have they got control over them and are they aware that some of the children are involved in this very dangerous activity of attacking traffic on the Westlink motorway?"

Community workers are also doing what they can.

Youth worker, Gerard Fusco, said: "We have been doing a lot of work over the past year. We have been meeting with community asking them to come on board, we cannot work in isolation.

"There is a lot of positive stuff going on with different agencies."

Police have warned that the attacks could "cause someone to be killed or seriously injured".

A spokesperson urged the people involved in the incidents to be aware of the danger they were creating.

"The people involved in this type of activity don't realise the seriousness of their actions," the spokesperson said.

"Even a small stone can shatter a windscreen, obstruct the view of the driver and cause a collision that could result in serious injury or even death."

"Unfortunately the people carrying out these attacks include children. They obviously do not realise what they are doing and are copying others."

She urged parents to check where their children are and help avoid a tragedy happening on the road.