Several schools in Belfast have made the decision to close early today (June 10) and send pupils home due to fears of further violence in the city. Seaview Primary School, Rathcoole Primary School, Cregagh Primary School, and Harmony Primary School have all confirmed they will shut. The Royal Belfast Academical Institution (RBAI) has also notified parents that pupils will be dismissed at 11:30 this morning 'in light of recent circumstances' beyond their control.
This follows details of additional planned protests being shared on social media this morning after unrest last night saw cars, buses, and properties set on fire. A two-month-old baby was rescued during the violence, the chief constable of the PSNI has said.
Chief Constable's Statement
Chief Constable Jon Boutcher told BBC's Good Morning Ulster: 'Last night we rescued so many families. Taking families – a baby as young as two months – out of their address to safety, taking them to police stations.' He added: 'And by the way, these weren't just families from ethnic minority communities, these were families from across communities that were caught up in this vile behaviour last night. There is absolutely no excuse for it.'
He thanked officers of the PSNI, the ambulance service, and the fire service for their remarkable efforts to keep people safe and minimize disruption and risk.
School Closures and Guidance
It remains unclear whether the Education Authority has issued guidance to schools regarding closures today. The principal of Seaview Primary School, Mrs. Latham, posted on Facebook: 'In light of the events in Belfast last night and ongoing concerns regarding potential further unrest today, the decision has been taken to close the school early in order to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our pupils and staff. School will close at 11:00am today, and we ask that all children are collected promptly at this time.'
In a message to parents, RBAI stated: 'In light of recent circumstances beyond our control, the decision has been taken to send all pupils home at 11.30am, with the exception of those completing external examinations. External examinations this afternoon are currently going ahead as planned, but if there is any change to this, it will be communicated to the families of the pupils concerned. If any pupil is unable to get home at 11.30am, senior staff will be in school to ensure they are not left unsupervised.'
Continued Coverage
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