Police in Northern Ireland have urged anyone with information about claims that officers advised nurses to show ID to masked men during disorder last week to report it.
It comes after Stormont First Minister Michelle O'Neill called on police to get to the bottom of the claims and contacted Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Jon Boutcher about the allegations.
Police said this evening that no one had made direct contact making such allegations, but said they were engaging with healthcare worker representatives.
The claims first emerged last week amid the violence that erupted in parts of the city after a knife attack in north Belfast in which Stephen Ogilvie, who is aged in his 40s, lost an eye.
Sudanese national Hadi Alodid, 30, appeared at Belfast Magistrates' Court last Wednesday, charged with attempted murder over the incident.
Anti-immigration disorder that broke out in response to the stabbing saw mobs set homes, a bus and cars on fire - with people targeted based on their race.
There have been multiple reports of foreign national healthcare workers being intimidated.
First Minister expresses particular concern over gang 'checkpoints'
Ms O'Neill said the suggestion that masked gangs were asking nurses to show their IDs as they travelled to work was "vile and disgusting".
She expressed particular concern about a claim that police officers close to the Mater Hospital in north Belfast had advised healthcare staff to show their IDs to the rioters as they passed "checkpoints" set up by the gangs.
"It's absolutely vile and disgusting," said Ms O'Neill.
"I've raised it directly with the Chief Constable. I know that our team in the Policing Board (PSNI oversight body) also raised this issue, and I've asked the Chief Constable to do a full investigation into this, because I've been told by members who work in one of our local hospitals that they stood with police and were told to show their ID to masked men on the street.
"If that happened, there needs to be a serious investigation. No nurse or no person going into the workplace [should have to] to stop at any mob and give their ID. That's absolutely disgraceful."
She added: "I think we have to get to the bottom of whether or not that did happen. I put it directly to the Chief Constable, who, in the first instance, dismissed it, but then, whenever I went back to him again, he had to take on board that actually both myself and the Health Minister (Mike Nesbitt) were told this by members of staff."
PSNI 'checking records' in bid to establish any specific reports
Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said police received reports of vehicles being stopped by masked gangs in the greater Belfast area.
"Officers responded immediately and a significant mobile policing presence was maintained for a period of time to provide reassurance and prevent the commission of offences," he said in a statement this evening.
"We are aware of reports circulating that police officers may have advised nursing staff outside the Mater Hospital to show their ID to masked men.
"We are checking our records of Tuesday evening to establish if we can identify any specific reports.
"I have also engaged directly with the Chief Executive of the Belfast Trust and with senior staff at the Mater Hospital in order to obtain any specific examples they might be aware of.
"No one has come to police directly at this stage and we would urge anyone who experienced this or who has information to contact us on 101."
The Royal College of Nursing engaged with the PSNI on the issue last week.
While the race-related violence has died down since Tuesday and Wednesday of last week, the weekend did see some isolated incidents in parts of Belfast and beyond.
Two men were arrested after criminal damage was caused to a property and vehicle in the Donegall Avenue area of south Belfast, while a house in north Belfast was targeted in an arson attack.
A Together Against Hate rally took place outside Belfast City Hall on Saturday afternoon, with an estimated 3,000 demonstrators in attendance.
The PSNI has been approached for comment on Ms O'Neill's remarks.
Health Minister asked about 'checkpoints' at Mater Hospital
Later, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt was asked directly about "checkpoints" at the Mater Hospital by SDLP MLA Colin McGrath during an urgent oral question.
Mr Nesbitt responded by saying he had been in the Mater last week and "heard a number of quite horrendous stories which I will not share with the House because some of those stories would identify specific nurses and put them back at risk".
"I did hear of one young nurse who had to negotiate her own way through the rioters, through the barricades down at Carlisle Circus, that's not right, and that's one of the conversations that I had with the Chief Constable and, I will assure the Member, Mr Boutcher took that very seriously indeed," he told MLAs.
Mr Nesbitt also said the "appalling events" of last week have "…
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