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| Police blame loyalists for Belfast parade trouble | Police blame loyalists for Belfast parade trouble |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The police have blamed loyalists for Sunday's trouble at a nationalist parade in north Belfast. | The police have blamed loyalists for Sunday's trouble at a nationalist parade in north Belfast. |
| They said up to 350 loyalists were involved in rioting which left 47 officers injured. | They said up to 350 loyalists were involved in rioting which left 47 officers injured. |
| Northern Ireland Chief Constable Matt Baggott said he was seeking meetings with the Department of Justice and the Northern Ireland Policing Board following the violence. | Northern Ireland Chief Constable Matt Baggott said he was seeking meetings with the Department of Justice and the Northern Ireland Policing Board following the violence. |
| He said the community could not afford a repeat of the trouble. | He said the community could not afford a repeat of the trouble. |
| The first and deputy first ministers are meeting community leaders in north Belfast to discuss contentious parades in the area. | |
| The chair of the Policing Board, Brian Rea, said the board planned to meet on Thursday to discuss the violence. | The chair of the Policing Board, Brian Rea, said the board planned to meet on Thursday to discuss the violence. |
| Police were attacked with petrol bombs, fireworks, bricks and bottles during hours of disorder at Carlisle Circus. | Police were attacked with petrol bombs, fireworks, bricks and bottles during hours of disorder at Carlisle Circus. |
| Police have said the trouble began with loyalists throwing missiles at Carlisle Circus on Sunday afternoon, with others from the republican side getting involved as well. | |
| It has been claimed the loyalists were angry that the republican parade had no restrictions placed on it. | |
| Amateur footage from the loyalist side of the police lines shows republican bands passing Clifton Street Orange hall. | |
| Members of the loyalist North and West Belfast Parades Forum including its spokesman Winston Irvine had gathered on the balcony at the front of the hall. | |
| In the footage taken by loyalists some republicans can be seen throwing golf balls and gesturing to the loyalists as police directed the parade into Henry Street across the road. | |
| People can also be seen breaking up paving stones on the kerbs as officers in riot gear move in to disperse them. | |
| Meanwhile loyalist crowds were being pushed back into Denmark street on the Shankill side of Carlisle Circus. | |
| Forty-seven police officers were injured during the hours of rioting that followed. | |
| After the parade took place there was also trouble between loyalists and republicans, according to the police. | |
| The PSNI used water cannon to disperse rioters and said calm was restored to the area at about 02:00 BST on Monday. Most of the violence was centred in Denmark Street and the Antrim Road. | The PSNI used water cannon to disperse rioters and said calm was restored to the area at about 02:00 BST on Monday. Most of the violence was centred in Denmark Street and the Antrim Road. |
| Four officers were taken to hospital. One policeman remains in hospital with injuries that are not life threatening. | Four officers were taken to hospital. One policeman remains in hospital with injuries that are not life threatening. |
| Tension | Tension |
| A 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour. | A 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour. |
| Tensions had been high following disturbances at a loyalist march in the same the area last weekend. | Tensions had been high following disturbances at a loyalist march in the same the area last weekend. |
| Seven police officers were injured in the previous disorder which took place on Saturday 25 August, during the annual Royal Black Institution demonstration. | Seven police officers were injured in the previous disorder which took place on Saturday 25 August, during the annual Royal Black Institution demonstration. |
| Bricks and bottles were thrown as several loyalist bands defied Parades Commission rulings and played music as they marched past St Patrick's Catholic Church on nearby Donegall Street. | Bricks and bottles were thrown as several loyalist bands defied Parades Commission rulings and played music as they marched past St Patrick's Catholic Church on nearby Donegall Street. |
| North Belfast DUP MP Nigel Dodds said he was hopeful that the argument over parades could be resolved. | North Belfast DUP MP Nigel Dodds said he was hopeful that the argument over parades could be resolved. |
| "I remain hopeful because we have already seen some constructive engagement on both sides," he said. | "I remain hopeful because we have already seen some constructive engagement on both sides," he said. |
| Mr Dodds said dialogue, respect and quiet conversation could resolve the matter. | Mr Dodds said dialogue, respect and quiet conversation could resolve the matter. |
| But he said he felt that good behaviour by the loyal lodges had ended in punishment, whilst bad behaviour by dissident republicans had been rewarded. | But he said he felt that good behaviour by the loyal lodges had ended in punishment, whilst bad behaviour by dissident republicans had been rewarded. |
| However, Sinn Fein north Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly argued: "We are dealing with sectarian activity outside a Catholic church and a further parade the following Saturday. | However, Sinn Fein north Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly argued: "We are dealing with sectarian activity outside a Catholic church and a further parade the following Saturday. |
| "The DUP have lectured people for 40 years about breaking the law." | "The DUP have lectured people for 40 years about breaking the law." |
| Mr Kelly said the difficulty was that spokespersons for the loyal orders did not seem to be available. | Mr Kelly said the difficulty was that spokespersons for the loyal orders did not seem to be available. |
| "Are these loyalist parades or loyal order parades?" he asked. | "Are these loyalist parades or loyal order parades?" he asked. |
| "At the core of this is direct talks without preconditions with the people affected. The people in Carrick Hill have to face 30 parades every summer." | "At the core of this is direct talks without preconditions with the people affected. The people in Carrick Hill have to face 30 parades every summer." |