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Dublin: 10 °C Tuesday 21 May, 2013

Belfast: Arrests following violence overnight

There were a number of arrests after police tackled disorder in the Lower Newtownards Road area of East Belfast.

Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Matt Baggott speaks to the media at police headquarters yesterday
Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Matt Baggott speaks to the media at police headquarters yesterday
Image: Paul Faith/PA Wire/Press Association Images

POLICE CAME UNDER attack in East Belfast last night from crowds wielding petrol bombs and stones.

They came under fire as crowds engaged in disorder in the Lower Newtownards Road yesterday evening. PSNI officers came under attack from crowds throwing petrol bombs and stones as they responded to reports of petrol bombs being thrown from Pitt Park towards St Matthew’s Church in Bryson Street.

Water cannon was used due to the extent of the disorder, police said. There was then an exchange of stones and other missiles between two factions until police restored order. A 17-year-old male youth was arrested.

Injuries and arrests

One officer is reported to have been injured. Police resources remained at the scene for some time due to ongoing disorder, with the objective of maintaining public safety, said the PSNI.

Police are also investigating an incident on the Newtownards Road at around 7.25pm last night, when a bus was attacked by stone throwers. It is believed that the driver was taken to hospital to be treated for cuts to his face.

Two men, aged 26 and 70, were arrested at a separate incident related to disorder following a street protest at Great Victoria Street earlier this evening.

A 16-year-old male youth was arrested in the Larne Road Link area of Ballymena following a protest in the area yesterday evening.

The Irish News reports that special needs children attending a meeting in a parochial hall with adults were left “terrified” when the area they were in became a location for violence.

St Matthew’s Church and Strand Walk, which are located in the nationalist Short Strand area, had petrol bombs and bricks thrown at them, it said. Translink bus services were suspended to the east of Belfast last night, said the paper.

Read: Derry: Arrests following flag protest>

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Comments (30 Comments)

  • The PSNI have taken a very light hand (presumably not to make things worse) on this. I wonder do they need a different approach…

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    • You are correct in the sence that not a lot of people are arrested at the time, but they have their own CCTV camera, evidence gatherers and news footage to identify people though, and they do. It also helps when one of the nationalist rioters at the weekend wore his work fleece whilst throwing rocks and waving a baseball bat at loyalist protesters / rioters.

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    • @JJ: Nationslists trying to protect their areas from being attacked by loyalist thugs. That’s self defence in my eyes.

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  • How brave of them to petrol bomb a church and terrorise special needs children. Their parents must be so proud. Oh wait a minute, they probably are!

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  • Gerard 15/01/13 #

    Shame on these thugs bringing back the dark days petrol bombing a Catholic Church kids running in fear people’s homes attacked just shows how evil and twisted bitter minded living in the past no surrender crap Why can’t they move on and live somewhat normal!!!

    Reply
    • Interesting insight….also an interesting avatar…pot, kettle!

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    • Gerard 15/01/13 #

      It’s a badge from the green brigade a Celtic group of fans that have brought life to Celtic Fc A well respected peaceful bunch of Bhoys that just sings all the way for 90 mins at home and away games they don’t cause riots and go on the rampage Ever in Fact Celtic only club in the world to receive both FIFA and Uefa best fans in the world award in same year!!!

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    • Your Avatar is eerily similar to a paramilitary. The Green Brigade….not as squeaky clean as you would like to think now Gerard were they. With their pro IRA chants, the poppy protest, Sectarian songs, Palestinian flags etc etc….Good old Bhoys indeed. They’re not football supporters, they’re thugs.

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    • Gerard 15/01/13 #

      Lol when did they ever go on a riot take it your a rangers fan.They rock Celtic park sing Irish songs and loyal to Ireland as most Celtic fans in scotland have very strong Irish Catholic roots as Club founded by a Irish brother have never cause riots outside football grounds 80.000 Celtic fans traveled to Seville only 30.000 had tickets not one fan arrested 90.000 rangers fans went to Manchester mobs they are went on the rampage broke up city centre Scotland’s shame same bitter minded thugs up in north going on the rampage

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    • With their ‘palestinian flags’ since when was trying to highlight the genocide of a people a bad thing, your entitled to your opinion but anything you say will be invalid in my eyes.

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    • Gerard 15/01/13 #

      Well said

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    • No Gerard, I’m not a Rangers fan. Nor am I Celtic fan. I don’t follow Scottish football, I wouldn’t even watch it as in my humble opinion its crap.
      Why wave Palestinian flags at a football game in Scotland. If Rangers flew Israeli flags, would that be ok in your eyes too. Sport and politics don’t mix.

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    • Gerard 15/01/13 #

      Was not me brought up football. My original comment was bout loyalist thugs attacking the grounds of a Catholic Church full of special needs children scared having to flee and nearby houses getting windows smashed petrol bombed enough is enough the loyalist must realise days of total dominance are well and truly over!!!

      Reply
    • Gerard 15/01/13 #

      And yes they do fly Israelis flags at rangers home ground in div 3 :) And East Belfast Eire

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  • The police should pretend the protesters are nationalists and protesting over the tri-colour. I think that would bring an end to trouble.

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  • Wonder is it a case of continue rioting to a scale that the psni can no longer handle so that the only option is to bring back British forces to the streets and reigniting their sense of britishness since their flag is gone.

    Reply
  • Creating mind sets eg. sectarian six counties, served a colonial function for Britain that has left a large group of otherwise good people with identity issues, cults function through this instrument, Dismantling cult-think is not easy but possible.

    Reply
  • All the while the PSNI still insist on cowering behind their police vans.

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  • A 70 year old was arrested? wow.

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  • Was my comment deleted?

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  • bye bye peace process. So long as they keep it to their six counties I couldnt care less if they destroy their little statelet

    Reply
    • Liam 15/01/13 #

      “so long as they keep it to their six counties”, that would not be possible, violence could happen across the border if this escalates, and what about the majority of people in Northern Ireland, they don’t want this nonsense continuing, do they not deserve to have their lives go back to normal?

      Reply
    • A “little statelet” which was carved out and help created by your so called 26 county ” state” who should take some responsibility for the troubles in the north. Don’t be so ignorant Kingstown.

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    • JakkiB 15/01/13 #

      No wonder this Country is fecked with people like you….Not caring!!
      Shame on you

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    • This is the biggest problem with the free state it acts as though the north is a completely seperate geographic territory..There is no physical border so just ignoring it and hoping the trouble doesnt spill over is just stupid.Said it before say it again ignorance isnt bliss and it will come back to bite them.

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    • @Kingstown or shouldn’t that be Dún Laoghaire:
      How selfish and narrow minded of you. I’m just glad that you’re in the minority in the republic and the majority of people here actually do care about their fellow Irishmen north of the border. The real fear I would have is that these Loyalists are trying to ignite a sectarian war. And trouble wouldn’t be located solely in the 6 counties.

      Reply

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