Northern Ireland sees a significant drop in violence, with fewer shootings and bombings reported in 2024 compared to previous years
Belfast: It looks like 2024 is shaping up to be a quieter year for Northern Ireland. There have been fewer shootings, bombings, and paramilitary-style attacks, which is a relief for many.
Sadly, there was one security-related death this year, the tragic shooting of Kevin Conway in January. This incident is believed to be linked to organized crime.
Interestingly, 2023 was a remarkable year, as there were no security-related deaths at all, marking the first time that’s happened since records began in 1969.
In terms of numbers, the annual security stats show a big drop in violence. There were only six bombings this year, down from eight last year, and just 17 shootings compared to 44 in 2023.
Belfast saw the most significant decrease in shootings, going from 12 to just three. The Derry City and Strabane area also saw a drop, from nine to five shootings.
Paramilitary-style assaults also decreased, with 23 recorded this year, down from 31 last year. Most of these assaults happened in Belfast, with one victim being under 18.
In Belfast, the number of these assaults dropped from 12 to seven, and in the Mid and East Antrim area, it went from seven to just two.
There were five casualties from paramilitary-style shootings, which is a huge drop from 19 in 2023. Security-related arrests also fell, with 67 arrests this year compared to 104 last year.
On the bright side, there were fewer firearms and explosives found this year. Only 11 firearms were discovered, down from 20, and the amount of explosives found dropped significantly as well.
So, while there’s still work to be done, it’s encouraging to see these numbers going down. Here’s hoping for continued peace in Northern Ireland!
