Police officers injured in Belfast riots
Police have appealed for calm on the streets of Belfast following serious rioting last night, in which 22 officers were injured and a bus hijacked and driven at police lines.
More than a quarter of a million people have been watching today’s 12 July celebrations – the height of the Protestant Orangemen’s marching season. Marchers are due to pass through the nationalist Ardoyne area where a counter demonstration is taking place in the next hour.
On Tuesday, petrol bombs and missiles, including stones and bricks, were thrown at officers as trouble flared throughout the night, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said.
A bus was hijacked and driven at a police cordon but crashed a short distance away, according to the force, while gunshots were also heard.
The police fired baton rounds and water cannon in parts of west Belfast to quell the riots, which broke out in the nationalist areas of Broadway, Oldpark and North Queen Street in the west of the city late on Monday night.
Tens of thousands of Orangemen and bandsmen taken to the streets as part of the annual event, which signals the height of the marching season.
We would appeal for everyone to do everything that they can to help ensure all areas are peaceful over the next 48 hours. PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Dave Jones
Police used water cannons and fired baton rounds to break crowds of around 100 and similar tactics were used to disperse 200 people throwing stones and missiles at police lines in the Broadway area of the city.
Sinn Fein Assembly member Jennifer McCann said: “Last night’s riot was caused by anti-social element coming together at one spot in West Belfast, attacking the police and destroying the local area.
“There was clearly no rationale for gathering last night at Broadway other than the purpose of having a riot. Those behind it are not welcome here and they are the very same people who are responsible for anti-social behaviour throughout the year within West Belfast.
“They have left this community in shock.”
Appeals for peaceful demonstrations
A number of injured police officers were taken to hospital, but none of their injuries is said to be life threatening, the PSNI said. PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Dave Jones praised colleagues for their professionalism in containing the violence.
“We would appeal for everyone to do everything that they can to help ensure all areas are peaceful over the next 48 hours. Violence does not need to be inevitable,” he said.
Before the riots broke out, politicians and churchmen on both sides had appealed for a day free of violence.
Security chiefs have put extra resources on standby in potential flashpoint areas of Belfast and Craigavon, Co Armagh, while every available police officer will be on duty at the 19 separate demonstrations taking place on Tuesday.