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Belfast: Emergency Stormont meeting after night of violence | Belfast: Emergency Stormont meeting after night of violence |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The gates of one of Belfast's so-called peace walls were prised open before being set alight | The gates of one of Belfast's so-called peace walls were prised open before being set alight |
An emergency meeting of Northern Ireland's power-sharing executive is taking place after a night of violence in west Belfast. | |
During several hours of rioting police officers were attacked, petrol bombs were thrown and a bus was burnt. | During several hours of rioting police officers were attacked, petrol bombs were thrown and a bus was burnt. |
The Police Federation said seven officers were injured during the violence on both sides of an interface between loyalist and nationalist areas. | The Police Federation said seven officers were injured during the violence on both sides of an interface between loyalist and nationalist areas. |
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the scenes "deeply concerned" him. | Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the scenes "deeply concerned" him. |
Belfast violence: Youths attack bus | Belfast violence: Youths attack bus |
It was likely that paramilitary organisations were involved in the disorder, according to Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Assistant Chief Constable Jonathan Roberts. | |
He said several hundred people on each side were throwing petrol bombs in both directions in the loyalist Shankill Road and the nationalist Springfield Road. | He said several hundred people on each side were throwing petrol bombs in both directions in the loyalist Shankill Road and the nationalist Springfield Road. |
Police officers were called in from other parts of Northern Ireland to help to deal with the rioting. | |
It was the sixth night of violence, a period during which 55 police officers have been injured. | |
The bus driver whose double-decker was attacked and burned is "very shaken by the incident but is physically unhurt", according to the public transport provider Translink. | |
Today is a chance for Stormont politicians to strike the right tone. | Today is a chance for Stormont politicians to strike the right tone. |
Words matter in politics, particularly in Northern Ireland right now where there are so many conflicting views and opinions that have led to an escalation of tensions. | Words matter in politics, particularly in Northern Ireland right now where there are so many conflicting views and opinions that have led to an escalation of tensions. |
The fact that executive ministers will meet on Thursday morning is a sign they recognise the escalation in disorder requires a united response. | The fact that executive ministers will meet on Thursday morning is a sign they recognise the escalation in disorder requires a united response. |
But it is hard to know how they intend to manage this together when they have not been on the same page about why the violence has been happening. | But it is hard to know how they intend to manage this together when they have not been on the same page about why the violence has been happening. |
It is hoped the assembly recall will present an opportunity to restore calm - privately some ministers say they fear now this has started it will be very difficult to stop. | It is hoped the assembly recall will present an opportunity to restore calm - privately some ministers say they fear now this has started it will be very difficult to stop. |
The UK and Irish governments may seek to step up their efforts as well, given the calls for political leadership on all sides. | The UK and Irish governments may seek to step up their efforts as well, given the calls for political leadership on all sides. |
But with the political atmosphere so febrile, moving back from the brink could pose a real challenge. | But with the political atmosphere so febrile, moving back from the brink could pose a real challenge. |
All of the main political parties in Northern Ireland have criticised the disorder but they are divided over its causes. | All of the main political parties in Northern Ireland have criticised the disorder but they are divided over its causes. |
It has been blamed on loyalist frustration about a decision not to prosecute people who attended the large-scale funeral of senior republican figure last summer, as well as concerns about the part of the Brexit deal directly relating to Northern Ireland. | It has been blamed on loyalist frustration about a decision not to prosecute people who attended the large-scale funeral of senior republican figure last summer, as well as concerns about the part of the Brexit deal directly relating to Northern Ireland. |
The disorder at the Shankill and Springfield Road areas lasted for several hours | |
Unionist political leaders - including Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader and First Minister Arlene Foster - have said PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne should resign over the force's handling of the funeral. | |
Mrs Foster tweeted on Thursday morning that she had now spoken to Mr Byrne in the wake of the violence, as did Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald. | |
The first minister had faced criticism for not speaking to the chief constable. | |
She said her thoughts were with the officers injured by the "unjustified and unjustifiable violence of recent days". | |
Earlier, DUP MLA Mervyn Storey, who also sits on the Policing Board, said a meeting between the party and the chief constable would take place after an approach by Mr Byrne. | |
Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Steve Aiken and Policing Board member Mike Nesbitt will also meet the chief constable later, party sources have said. | |
It is understood Mr Byrne will be briefing the Stormont executive on Thursday morning. | |
A bus was set on fire during the violence | |
On Thursday the Stormont assembly is being recalled for politicians to consider a motion calling for an "immediate and complete end" to violence in loyalist areas. | On Thursday the Stormont assembly is being recalled for politicians to consider a motion calling for an "immediate and complete end" to violence in loyalist areas. |
The motion brought by Alliance Party asks assembly members to unequivocally condemn those involved and support the rule of law. | The motion brought by Alliance Party asks assembly members to unequivocally condemn those involved and support the rule of law. |
Leaders of the main political parties in Northern Ireland have condemned Wednesday night's violence, as has Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin. | Leaders of the main political parties in Northern Ireland have condemned Wednesday night's violence, as has Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin. |
"Now is the time for the two governments and leaders on all sides to work together to defuse tensions and restore calm," he wrote on social media. | "Now is the time for the two governments and leaders on all sides to work together to defuse tensions and restore calm," he wrote on social media. |
Mr Johnson said: "The way to resolve differences is through dialogue, not violence or criminality." | Mr Johnson said: "The way to resolve differences is through dialogue, not violence or criminality." |
I am deeply concerned by the scenes of violence in Northern Ireland, especially attacks on PSNI who are protecting the public and businesses, attacks on a bus driver and the assault of a journalist. The way to resolve differences is through dialogue, not violence or criminality. | I am deeply concerned by the scenes of violence in Northern Ireland, especially attacks on PSNI who are protecting the public and businesses, attacks on a bus driver and the assault of a journalist. The way to resolve differences is through dialogue, not violence or criminality. |
In recent days 10 people have been arrested as a result of rioting by gangs of people, some as young as 13. | In recent days 10 people have been arrested as a result of rioting by gangs of people, some as young as 13. |
Unionist leaders have attributed the violence to the decision not to prosecute Sinn Féin members attending the funeral of republican Bobby Storey in June 2020. | Unionist leaders have attributed the violence to the decision not to prosecute Sinn Féin members attending the funeral of republican Bobby Storey in June 2020. |
It was attended by 2,000 mourners - including Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill, the Sinn Féin vice-president - at a time when Covid-19 restrictions were in place. | It was attended by 2,000 mourners - including Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill, the Sinn Féin vice-president - at a time when Covid-19 restrictions were in place. |
Unionist leaders have also linked the violence to simmering loyalist tensions over the Irish Sea border imposed as a result of the UK-EU Brexit deal. | Unionist leaders have also linked the violence to simmering loyalist tensions over the Irish Sea border imposed as a result of the UK-EU Brexit deal. |
Mrs Foster described the violence as "an embarrassment to Northern Ireland". | |
Cars were hijacked and burnt at the gates of an interface area in west Belfast | Cars were hijacked and burnt at the gates of an interface area in west Belfast |
"These actions do not represent unionism or loyalism. They... only serve to take the focus off the real law breakers in Sinn Féin," she posted on social media. | "These actions do not represent unionism or loyalism. They... only serve to take the focus off the real law breakers in Sinn Féin," she posted on social media. |
Sinn Féin, the SDLP, and the Alliance Party have accused unionist politicians of ramping up rhetoric in recent days by calling for Mr Byrne to stand down. | |
On Wednesday, Mrs Foster repeated her call for Mr Byrne to resign. | On Wednesday, Mrs Foster repeated her call for Mr Byrne to resign. |
People attacked police with petrol bombs and masonry during the disorder | People attacked police with petrol bombs and masonry during the disorder |
She said she had a duty to speak out about the PSNI's failure to uphold Covid-19 rules at a number of republican funerals over the past year. | She said she had a duty to speak out about the PSNI's failure to uphold Covid-19 rules at a number of republican funerals over the past year. |
The first minister said: "If I meet the chief constable I will simply repeat what I said to him last Tuesday... when I said he had lost the confidence of the unionist community and he should resign." | The first minister said: "If I meet the chief constable I will simply repeat what I said to him last Tuesday... when I said he had lost the confidence of the unionist community and he should resign." |
Mark Lindsay, the chairman of the Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, said removing the chief constable "in the middle of a crisis" would not be helpful, although he said there were "serious issues that need to be addressed". | Mark Lindsay, the chairman of the Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, said removing the chief constable "in the middle of a crisis" would not be helpful, although he said there were "serious issues that need to be addressed". |
"The police officers on the ground - to be honest it doesn't have an awful lot of impact on them who their chief constable is - they take their direction from lower down the command chain," he said. | "The police officers on the ground - to be honest it doesn't have an awful lot of impact on them who their chief constable is - they take their direction from lower down the command chain," he said. |
"So it's for politicians to decide and for the chief constable himself to decide." | "So it's for politicians to decide and for the chief constable himself to decide." |
Forty-eight police officers have been hurt and 10 people arrested as a result of trouble in loyalist areas of several towns and cities | Forty-eight police officers have been hurt and 10 people arrested as a result of trouble in loyalist areas of several towns and cities |
The assembly recall has the support of the five main Stormont parties and was proposed by Alliance Party leader and Justice Minister Naomi Long. | The assembly recall has the support of the five main Stormont parties and was proposed by Alliance Party leader and Justice Minister Naomi Long. |
She hoped the motion would get the Stormont parties to "unite around a call for calm". | |
She said she felt ill "listening to adults clapping, cheering, goading young children to put their lives at risk" during the violence. | |
"We need to step up to the plate as political representatives and talk about the political solutions to those problems as well as condemning the violence," she said. | |
"I think everybody need to be very careful about the language they use because it does have consequences." | |
Sinn Féin MLA John O'Dowd said there were tensions "across the board". | |
"People are deeply worried and deeply concerned as to where this is heading," he said. | |
SDLP leader and Foyle MP Colum Eastwood described the violent scenes, which have also occurred in loyalist areas of Londonderry in recent days, as disgusting. | |
"We need to tone down the rhetoric, we need to come together and discuss the problems," he said. | |
"There clearly has been tensions building, I think frankly since Brexit." | |
He said he would also be meeting Mr Byrne. | |
Did you witness the violence? Do you live in the area? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Did you witness the violence? Do you live in the area? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
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