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Belfast: Emergency Stormont meeting after night of violence Belfast: Stormont ministers 'gravely concerned' after fresh violence
(about 1 hour later)
The gates of one of Belfast's so-called peace walls were prised open before being set alightThe 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. NI's power-sharing executive has said it is "gravely concerned" by recent street violence and has called for calm to be restored.
During several hours of rioting police officers were attacked, petrol bombs were thrown and a bus was burnt. During several hours of rioting in Belfast on Wednesday, police 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 at an interface between loyalist and nationalist areas.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the scenes "deeply concerned" him. The prime minister also condemned the violence.
Belfast violence: Youths attack busBelfast violence: Youths attack bus
More than 50 police officers have been hurt in the violence in a number of areas since the end of last month.
It was likely that paramilitary organisations were involved in the disorder, according to Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Assistant Chief Constable Jonathan Roberts.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.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.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. From the scene: Mark Simpson, BBC Newsline
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. Belfast has had plenty of practice clearing up after an overnight riot and the latest operation was almost complete by 09:00 BST.
The fact that executive ministers will meet on Thursday morning is a sign they recognise the escalation in disorder requires a united response. There was still smoke coming from a burning bus, but life went on and other bus services continued past the smouldering wreck.
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. There has been an outbreak of violence in a part Northern Ireland every night now for more than a week.
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 Shankill Road and Springfield Road in west Belfast are now added to the list that includes Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus, Ballymena and the Waterside area of Londonderry.
The UK and Irish governments may seek to step up their efforts as well, given the calls for political leadership on all sides. The longer it goes on, the harder it will be to stop.
But with the political atmosphere so febrile, moving back from the brink could pose a real challenge. In recent days 10 people have been arrested as a result of rioting by gangs of people, some as young as 13.
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.
Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin 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.
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. However, following an emergency meeting of the NI Executive, a joint statement was issued from ministers condemning the violence.
"We are gravely concerned by the scenes we have all witnessed on our streets over the last week, including those at the Lanark Way interface last night," the statement read.
"Attacks on police officers, public services and communities are deplorable and they must stop.
"Destruction, violence and the threat of violence are completely unacceptable and unjustifiable, no matter what concerns may exist in communities. Those who would seek to use and abuse our children and young people to carry out these attacks have no place in our society."
The violence has been brought on by a combination of factors.
Northern Ireland politics and bigger events like Brexit are all in play here but there is no single straightforward reason.
There is a lot of fury over the attendance of Sinn Féin politicians at a funeral of a former IRA leader last summer which appeared to blatantly flout Covid-19 rules.
Sinn Féin's most senior politicians, among long lines of former IRA members, walked through the streets behind a cortege at a time when many people missed attending funerals for their own loved ones.
"Republicans do what they like and get away with it" has broadly become one of the narratives being used to justify trouble against the police.
However there were also loyalist funerals which broke rules during the pandemic.
Brexit has been creating tension in loyalist communities for months, with the growing realisation over just how differently Northern Ireland is now being treated from the rest of the UK.
Signs of anger over the new Irish Sea trade border are plastered on walls and lampposts.
In these areas it feels that Boris Johnson has betrayed Northern Ireland and there is a backlash.
But that isn't all - there are much more localised issues too.
Loyalist paramilitaries have been subject to a series of raids and arrests for their criminal activities and police believe in some areas these are the figures in the background helping to encourage trouble.
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 of senior republican Bobby Storey in June 2020.
Last week a decision was made not to prosecute senior Sinn Féin members who attended the funeral.
Mrs Foster tweeted on Thursday morning that she had spoken to Mr Byrne in the wake of the violence, as did Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald.
The disorder at the Shankill and Springfield Road areas lasted for several hoursThe 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. The first minister had faced criticism for not speaking to the chief constable after the violence on previous days.
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. It is understood Mrs Foster and DUP MLA Mervyn Storey, who also sits on the Policing Board, received a 10-minute briefing from Mr Byrne by conference call after the party was approached by the chief constable.
The first minister had faced criticism for not speaking to the chief constable. Police officers are attacked, petrol bombs thrown and a bus burnt in Belfast rioting.
She said her thoughts were with the officers injured by the "unjustified and unjustifiable violence of recent days". Mrs Foster has described the violence as "an embarrassment to Northern Ireland" and 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. It is understood Mr Byrne will brief the Stormont executive on Thursday morning, as well as all of the parties separately.
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 violenceA 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 Northern Ireland Assembly was 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.
"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."
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.
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.
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
"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.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.
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.
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".
Cars were hijacked and burnt at the gates of an interface area in west Belfast
"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
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.She said she felt ill "listening to adults clapping, cheering, goading young children to put their lives at risk" during the violence.
People attacked police with petrol bombs and masonry during the disorder
"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."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".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."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. Forty-eight police officers have been hurt and 10 people arrested as a result of trouble in loyalist areas of several towns and cities
SDLP leader and Foyle MP Colum Eastwood described the violent scenes as disgusting and said he would also meet the PSNI chief constable.
"We need to tone down the rhetoric, we need to come together and discuss the problems," he said."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." "There clearly has been tensions building, I think, frankly since Brexit."
He said he would also be meeting Mr Byrne. Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Steve Aiken and Policing Board member Mike Nesbitt will also meet the chief constable, party sources have said.
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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