The Belfast Desk

MISSING PERSON APPEAL Police are searching for Mark Dinsmore, 50, from Bushmills, who was last seen on Saturday 24 October near Ballymoney. Officers fear he may have been injured in a road collision. Information? Call 101, quoting 431 of 25/10/26. belfastdesk.co.uk/2026/10/31… #MissingPerson #Bushmills #Ballymoney #PSNI

A man has died following a collision involving a pedestrian and a lorry on the Falls Road in west Belfast in the early hours of Friday. The road has reopened, and police are appealing for witnesses and footage. belfastdesk.co.uk/2026/10/30… #Belfast #WestBelfast #FallsRoad #PSNI

Update: Suspicious devices discovered as security alert continues - belfastdesk.co.uk/2026/10/30…

Major change to how police respond to welfare calls in Northern Ireland. From Sunday, the PSNI will direct certain welfare concerns to health and social care services rather than sending officers. Emergency policing responsibilities remain unchanged. belfastdesk.co.uk/2026/10/30… #PSNI #NorthernIreland #MentalHealth

BREAKING: Residents have been evacuated in the Shankill Road area of Belfast. The PSNI confirms a 35-year-old man has been arrested under the Terrorism Act following searches at two properties. Motorists are advised to avoid the area. #Shankill #Belfast #PSNI belfastdesk.co.uk/2026/10/30…

🚨 Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Terrorism Investigation Unit are conducting searches of two properties in the Shankill Road area of north Belfast this morning, 30 October, as part of a proactive investigation into suspected terrorism offences. A 35-year-old man was arrested for offences under the Terrorism Act, and remains in police custody at this time. As part of the proactive policing operation, a number of items have been located at an address at Edwina Street in the city and a number of properties have now been evacuated. Motorists are advised to avoid the area at this time, as officers remain at the scene during this public safety operation. #shankill

📊 NEW: Young people's mental health in Northern Ireland has improved in several areas, according to Department of Health figures. 🔹 Definite mental health concerns down from 19% to 13% 🔹 Signs of loneliness down from 37% to 28% 🔹 More young people seeking help 🔹 Girls continue to report higher levels of loneliness #NorthernIreland #MentalHealth #YoungPeople #Education belfastdesk.co.uk/2026/10/30…

💻 £7.5 MILLION FOR BELFAST CYBER RESEARCH Queen's University Belfast has secured £7.5m in UK Government funding to expand its Cyber-AI Hub. The investment will support: 🔹 Cyber security and AI research 🔹 Collaboration with businesses 🔹 Postgraduate skills development 🔹 Northern Ireland's growing technology sector #Belfast #CyberSecurity #ArtificialIntelligence #QueensUniversity belfastdesk.co.uk/2026/10/30…

🎄 BELFAST CHRISTMAS LIGHTS 2026! ✨ Free tickets for the City Hall switch-on on Saturday 14 November will be released on Tuesday 3 November. 🎟️ 10am and 7pm ticket releases 🎅 Free family entertainment 🎶 Live music and performances 🎄 Christmas Market opens the same day Maximum 5 tickets per booking. #Belfast #Christmas2026 #BelfastChristmas belfastdesk.co.uk/2026/10/30…

🏥 A new Maternal and Newborn Partnership has been launched to improve maternity and neonatal care across Northern Ireland. The initiative will bring together healthcare professionals, policymakers and families to support safer, more consistent services and better outcomes. #NorthernIreland #MaternityCare #NeonatalCare #Health belfastdesk.co.uk/2026/10/30…

🗳️ Alliance has confirmed Andrew Muir and Connie Egan as its candidates for North Down in the 2027 Assembly election. The sitting MLAs highlighted priorities including environmental protection, integrated education, community safety and Stormont reform. belfastdesk.co.uk/2026/10/30… #NorthDown #AllianceParty #Stormont #NIPolitics

🗳️ Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson has been re-selected to contest Upper Bann in the 2027 Assembly election. The sitting MLA says voters have an opportunity to challenge political deadlock at Stormont and demand more effective government. belfastdesk.co.uk/2026/10/30… #UpperBann #AllianceParty #Stormont #NIPolitics

✈️ Belfast City Airport has welcomed 26 young people from 19 schools and colleges to its seventh IGNITE Youth Leadership Programme. Over 10 months, students will develop leadership skills, gain workplace experience and learn from professionals across different industries. belfastdesk.co.uk/2026/10/30… #Belfast #YouthLeadership #Education #NorthernIreland

🌸 Belfast has been named Northern Ireland's Best Kept City! Annadale Community Garden also celebrated a double success, while local gardeners, businesses, schools and community groups were recognised in the Belfast in Bloom 2026 awards. Full story 👇 belfastdesk.co.uk/2026/10/30… #Belfast #BelfastInBloom #Community #Environment

🎃 Meet NI Water's newest Halloween monsters! Sir Block A Lot, Blob the Fatberg, The Oily Oozer and The Clog King were created by talented Northern Ireland schoolchildren to help tackle blocked sewers and pollution. Remember the 3 Ps: pee, poo and paper! belfastdesk.co.uk/2026/10/30… #Halloween2026 #NIWater #NorthernIreland #Environment

👮 Police in Causeway Coast and Glens are strengthening links with local communities following a Meet the Teams event in Coleraine. The PSNI says increased neighbourhood policing numbers will support greater visibility, accessibility and engagement across the district. belfastdesk.co.uk/2026/10/30… #Coleraine #PSNI #CommunityPolicing #NorthernIreland

🎃 NI Water is warning young people to stay away from reservoirs, construction sites and treatment works this Halloween. Restricted sites can contain deep water, machinery and other serious hazards, while isolated locations may have poor mobile reception. Stay safe this Halloween. belfastdesk.co.uk/2026/10/30… #Halloween2026 #NIWater #NorthernIreland #Safety

💧 NI Water has completed major safety improvements at Dunalis Reservoir near Coleraine. The project includes a new enlarged spillway designed to manage extreme rainfall and forms part of a wider £6 million reservoir safety investment programme. Full story 👇 belfastdesk.co.uk/2026/10/30… #NIWater #Coleraine #NorthernIreland #Infrastructure