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Apprentice Boys pass through city | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The main Apprentice Boys parade has passed through Londonderry. | |
The start of the parade was slightly delayed following the discovery of two suspicious objects on the city's walls at Governor Walker's Pillar. | |
Controlled explosions were carried out by the army and the police later labelled them elaborate hoaxes. | |
Up to 10,000 Apprentice Boys and 130 bands took part in the annual Relief of Derry parade. Police said eight people were arrested for minor offences. | |
There had been concerns trouble may flare because of an anti-internment rally organised by republicans at the same time. | |
All sides appealed for calm ahead of the two events. | |
"Responsibility" | |
East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell said the security alerts were "unfortunate". | |
"It seems that some people just can't move on, but the rest of us are," he said. | |
Speaking in advance of the parade, police warned they would take robust action against any trouble-makers. | |
An anti-internment rally was held at the same time as the parade | |
"Most of the work has gone into preventing problems and appealing to community groups and the Apprentice Boys to re-double their efforts into making this peaceful," said Acting Chief Inspector Jon Burrows. | "Most of the work has gone into preventing problems and appealing to community groups and the Apprentice Boys to re-double their efforts into making this peaceful," said Acting Chief Inspector Jon Burrows. |
"I'm asking for responsibility on both sides." | "I'm asking for responsibility on both sides." |
During the main parade in the afternoon, an internment commemoration rally was held a short distance away in the Bogside. | |
Sinn Fein Mayor Paul Fleming said he hoped the day would pass off peacefully. | Sinn Fein Mayor Paul Fleming said he hoped the day would pass off peacefully. |
"The people of this city do not want to see a return to what went on before," he said. | "The people of this city do not want to see a return to what went on before," he said. |
"Groups who ignore that, in my view, ignore it at their peril." | "Groups who ignore that, in my view, ignore it at their peril." |