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Alliance Party Carrickfergus office attacked Alliance Party Carrickfergus office attacked and gutted
(35 minutes later)
The Alliance Party's office in Carrickfergus has been attacked and police officers have been injured after trouble flared following a loyalist flag protest.The Alliance Party's office in Carrickfergus has been attacked and police officers have been injured after trouble flared following a loyalist flag protest.
Police said that about 1,500 to 1,600 people had gathered at the Irish Gate roundabout earlier on Wednesday.Police said that about 1,500 to 1,600 people had gathered at the Irish Gate roundabout earlier on Wednesday.
They were protesting against Belfast City Council's decision to stop flying the union flag every day.They were protesting against Belfast City Council's decision to stop flying the union flag every day.
Trouble broke out and missiles, bottles and masonry were thrown at police.Trouble broke out and missiles, bottles and masonry were thrown at police.
The violence is continuing in nearby West Street and a number of baton rounds have been fired. The violence continued in nearby West Street, where Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson has a constituency office.
Detectives said a number of officers had been injured and they had received a report of a fire at a building at West Street. Police fired a number of baton rounds at the crowd.
Firefighters are at the scene. The extent of damage to the Alliance Party office in the County Antrim town is unclear. Detectives said a number of officers had been injured and they had received a report of a fire at a building at West Street. Firefighters are at the scene.
However, the party wants the Northern Ireland Assembly to be recalled on Thursday to discuss the attack. The extent of damage to the Alliance Party office in the County Antrim town is unclear.
Meanwhile, in Carrickfergus, police are talking to community representatives in an effort to restore calm. However, Alliance leader David Ford has requested that the Northern Ireland Assembly be recalled on Thursday to discuss the attack.
Mr Dickson said what had happened was "an outright attack on democracy".
"The police have informed me my office is on fire and all I can do is wait to see the extent of the damage," he said.
DUP MP Sammy Wilson has condemned the attack.
"People are entitled to peacefully protest but there is absolutely no justification for the carnage which has been caused in Carrickfergus this evening," he said.
"Those involved do a disservice to the flag they claim to defend. Today, in the House of Commons, several MPs backed the union flag being flown from city hall, however this criminal behaviour undermines and distracts from the argument.
"I urge those involved to step back from this criminal activity and channel their energies through democratic politics."