A protestor has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after shots were fired on the latest night of flag protests in Belfast.
Police arrested the 38-year-old after officers came under gunfire during the latest outbreak of violence over a council decision to end the practice of flying the British flag over the city.
Two other men were also detained after a mob of around one hundred loyalists petrol bombs, fireworks, bricks and other masonry at police in East Belfast.
A police spokesman told the Irish Times that officers were called to deal with violence in the Newtownards Road, Albertbridge Road and Castlereagh Street and Templemore Avenue areas.
They used water cannon and rubber and plastic rounds to disperse the crowds.One officer was injured and a number of arrests were made.
The latest violence broke out hours after more than 1,000 demonstrators marched on Belfast’s City Hall. A heavy police presence ensured the rally passed off without major incident but trouble flared later that night in East Belfast.
Nationalist SDLP politician Conall McDevitt has claimed that the firing of shots at police officers ends any claim to legitimacy by protest organisers.McDevitt, a member of the Ulster Assembly, said: “Whatever grievance some people may have had, it is totally lost when they allow people to use these protests as cover for attempted murder.
“There is only one response possible and that’s a firm policing response against everyone involved in illegal protests and anyone seeking to organise or encourage illegal or violent demonstrations.”McDevitt also urged unionist leaders to publicly reject the protests.
He said: “They must do this before someone is killed or seriously injured.”
Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and deputy PM Eamon Gilmore has also condemned the latest attacks.Gilmore said: “These attacks over the past three days are not the mark of legitimate protest but are the actions of a small group who want to bring Northern Ireland back to a darker past.
“The Irish Government fully supports the efforts of and will remain in close contact with elected leaders in Northern Ireland to resolve the flags issue.
”Loyalist protesters still plan to bring their union flag protest to Dublin next week when they will ask for the Tricolour to be lowered at the Irish parliament. =
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.solyeant | Jan 10, 2013, 01:15 PM EST
Seems the cost of this outbreak of violence is now a problem. The solution isn't the work of Einstein but simply look for change and extend the penalty to the family or the brothers and sisters of the culprit Imagine the scene in Ardenvour street if the errant son is convicted of affray and his mother and father lose their housing allowance for 6 motnhs and then the state look for recompense from brothers and sisters The result would be an immediate end to rioting and an adherence to the vague principles of Ulster democracy But have the Judiciary and the Police authority sufficent energy to create a new fountain of redressment in breaking the age old doctrine ' I am not my brother's keeper' In this case he might just be advised to see what the f the brother or sister is up to otherwise he loses his dole ,housing allowance and free transport Now that's enough to causeany hoodie to look at the dole card or the household account of his mother . If they are deprived of their allowances then they can reclaim on the mainland or in the South Don't just call for change do it once and the problem is solved No riotis but perhaps a few trnasfers to the mainland where the anger can be enjoyed by other Great Brits and they can plan another settlement of Ulster.
seanomelb | Jan 08, 2013, 07:04 PM EST
seamus you cross a bridge to far.
seamus60 | Jan 08, 2013, 05:33 PM EST
Contrast the attitude and behaviour of most involved through out these protests to that of Sinn Feins after Nationalists were beaten off the streets in Ardoyne when basically trying to stop the OO stumping through their neighbourhood. Haven`t heard a single Loyalist politician call for those involved in the protests to be thrown out of their homes etc. Would make you seriously think that SF will chastise their own constituents beyond the call of duty , just to appease their master.
seanomelb | Jan 07, 2013, 06:40 PM EST
Aliciarose I live in oz nd your statement is incorrect. The flag only flies daily from parliamnet house or war cemeteries. Town halls do not fly the flag daily.
Aliciarose | Jan 07, 2013, 05:48 PM EST
I have been reading about this for weeks now. We fly our Flag all the time out here in OZ. Thank God we don't have to put up with you idiots. We only have to worry about the Bushfires at the moment. Wake up to yourselves. Think about the businesses in Belfast who are losing their incomes because of you "shites".
IrelandNorth | Jan 07, 2013, 02:51 PM EST
A 38 year old loyalist was charged in court today. Fortunately was firing a blank gun, but charged with wreckless endangerment.
IrelandNorth | Jan 07, 2013, 02:12 PM EST
Whilst it's very easy to empathise with the PSNI in trying to police a no-win situation, it was regretably partisan of its Chief [Service-or] to appeal to dissident loyalists to stop protesting because it was detracting from policing dissident republicans. Is there an appreciable difference between dissidents generically? It's time for Matt Baggott to call in the national police force An Gárda Síochána na h'Éireann (AGSÉ) to reinforce the neo-provincial PSNI/SPTE before things get really oout of hand. Irish regiments of the British Army could also be deployed in aid to the civil power.
seamus60 | Jan 07, 2013, 06:59 AM EST
Madeliene. I think you`re winding us all up .
seamus60 | Jan 07, 2013, 06:34 AM EST
Funny how all the loyalist politicians and even a senior cop say they can understand the frustration of the protesters. They democratically elected by the people can understand the people not accepting democracy. Crazy world.
seamus60 | Jan 07, 2013, 04:25 AM EST
The brits are loving it. Nothing like a bit of civil unrest to keep the natives pre-occupied. Calls for another thousand ruc officers to be recruited. lol
Gearoid4 | Jan 06, 2013, 08:31 PM EST
This protest has gone beyond all reason and has become a cover for those who possess idle hands which are exploited cynically by unionist politicians. It is all indicative of people in search of an identity who do not have a clue to what the term "British" means.
pilib04 | Jan 06, 2013, 07:40 PM EST
The "recreational rioters" from East Belfast are only having these flag marches so they can use it as a cover to attack the Short Strand. The Union Jack is only flown over Parliament at Westminster for the same 18 days as the Belfast City Council. Stormont, the Northern Ireland Assembly, only flies the UJ 18 days. The Welsh and Scottish Assemblies only fly the UJ 18 days. City councils across England, Scotland and Wales only fly the UJ 18 days. It's time for those in charge in Northern Ireland to say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
seanomelb | Jan 06, 2013, 05:08 PM EST
The RUC/PSNI seem to have a different approach to orange protesters than they do to nationalist protesters. Where are the rubber bullets??
Madeliene | Jan 06, 2013, 05:03 PM EST
I kknow won;t get printed in a lib newspaper, but they can count themselves lucky. If theat were here, in USA and they were blak, Belfast would be gone!
IrelandNorth | Jan 06, 2013, 02:11 PM EST
Democratic vote goes against them, so they attack the PSNI - strange illogic? Are Matt Baggot or George Hamilton opposition councillors? Or is it just because the police are enforcing the law impartially, and some people don't like being told what to do, because they were brough up in an imperial tradition which led them to believe that law breaking was default mode for when you dont get what you want democratically. They resort to lawbreaking like blockading the 'Queen's highway' and watching and besetting and issuing death threats against elected representatives, (criminal offence in any Common Law jurisdiction) - to prove their loyalty? How is one loyal by offering violence to a political entity to which they swear allegience? If there had been more moderate/centrists in Ireland/Northern Ireland, there may never have been a split on the Island of Ireland - or between the British and/or Irish Isles! There's little point in calling oneself a democrat (sic) whilst winking and nodding to paramilitaries. There's little point in calling oneself a progressive (sic) whilst engaging in extra-constitutionalism. Blocking streets and thereatening politicians won't be tolerated up in the national capitol by An Gárda Síochána na h'Éireann (AGSE) any more than it is in the provincial capitol. Given that Min Shatter offered the republics CJS to his northern counterpart in teh wake of the killing of Prison Office Black, perhaps he could offer AGSE to the PSNI as reinforcements? And don't think the UVF can't wreck our Gathering either!
cillowen | Jan 06, 2013, 01:05 PM EST
Instead of calling those Orange Masonic craven Apartheid seekers - Irish, Ulstermen or Scot-Irish - call them Scotia-UKers as they rightly are and incline being.
bobby | Jan 06, 2013, 10:51 AM EST
Belfast violence is being orchestrated by loyalist paramilitaries The head of the Police Federation of Northern Ireland said loyalist paramilitaries have hijacked the flags protests.