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| Trouble flares in loyalist protests | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Eight police officers have been injured and four people arrested following clashes between loyalists and riot police across Northern Ireland. | |
| Trouble began in Belfast when a crowd that was blocking the road attacked a van after its driver had attempted to drive through a loyalist roadblock. | |
| Police said an attempt had been made to hijack the van. | |
| Missiles were thrown at riot police and police Land Rovers in the Shaftsbury Square area of the city. | |
| Bricks and other missiles were also thrown at police on the O'Neill Road in Newtownabbey, on the outskirts of Belfast. | |
| Police said about 50 people were in the area. | Police said about 50 people were in the area. |
| There was also trouble at the Mossley Mill civic centre in Newtownabbey, where 600 people were attending functions on the premises. | There was also trouble at the Mossley Mill civic centre in Newtownabbey, where 600 people were attending functions on the premises. |
| Missiles | Missiles |
| Two hundred were at the DUP mayor of Newtownabbey's Christmas dinner and 400 were at a Christmas function involving singer Peter Corry. | Two hundred were at the DUP mayor of Newtownabbey's Christmas dinner and 400 were at a Christmas function involving singer Peter Corry. |
| Around 30 to 40 loyalists who congregated at the gates hijacked and burned two cars and smashed the windscreens of other cars belonging to people attending the functions. | Around 30 to 40 loyalists who congregated at the gates hijacked and burned two cars and smashed the windscreens of other cars belonging to people attending the functions. |
| People at the play were delayed and those at the Christmas dinner had their evening cut short because entertainers could not get into the premises. | People at the play were delayed and those at the Christmas dinner had their evening cut short because entertainers could not get into the premises. |
| A situation arose where people inside could not leave and people attempting to enter were obstructed. | A situation arose where people inside could not leave and people attempting to enter were obstructed. |
| DUP assembly member Paul Girvan attempted to speak to the protesters but was initially stoned. | DUP assembly member Paul Girvan attempted to speak to the protesters but was initially stoned. |
| He was eventually recognised by the loyalists. | He was eventually recognised by the loyalists. |
| He said that as far as he was concerned there was clear paramilitary orchestration. | He said that as far as he was concerned there was clear paramilitary orchestration. |
| Mr Girvan blamed the Ulster Volunteer Force. | Mr Girvan blamed the Ulster Volunteer Force. |
| A water cannon was used in Belfast. | A water cannon was used in Belfast. |
| Police said they were dealing with "minor disturbances" in the Shaftsbury Square area. | Police said they were dealing with "minor disturbances" in the Shaftsbury Square area. |
| They said two officers had been injured, with one of them being taken to hospital. | They said two officers had been injured, with one of them being taken to hospital. |
| They said that at about 20:30 GMT, a car was hijacked in Stroud Street off Sandy Row and set on fire. Another parked car was also set on fire in the Shaftsbury Square area. | They said that at about 20:30 GMT, a car was hijacked in Stroud Street off Sandy Row and set on fire. Another parked car was also set on fire in the Shaftsbury Square area. |
| Earlier, police had warned drivers about traffic disruption due to protests about the change in flag policy at Belfast City Hall. | Earlier, police had warned drivers about traffic disruption due to protests about the change in flag policy at Belfast City Hall. |
| Several small protests took place in Belfast, Bangor and Lisburn as well as other areas of Northern Ireland. | Several small protests took place in Belfast, Bangor and Lisburn as well as other areas of Northern Ireland. |
| A protest at Alliance party headquarters near Holywood Arches in east Belfast caused traffic delays. | A protest at Alliance party headquarters near Holywood Arches in east Belfast caused traffic delays. |
| Protesters also blocked the road at University Street at the office of Alliance MLA Anna Lo. | Protesters also blocked the road at University Street at the office of Alliance MLA Anna Lo. |
| A protest at the back of Belfast City Hall on Friday night has also caused traffic disruption. | A protest at the back of Belfast City Hall on Friday night has also caused traffic disruption. |
| 'Mob violence' | 'Mob violence' |
| Earlier on Friday there were protests at Cloughfern Corner at Newtownabbey, Lanark Way in west Belfast and Limestone Road in the north of the city. | Earlier on Friday there were protests at Cloughfern Corner at Newtownabbey, Lanark Way in west Belfast and Limestone Road in the north of the city. |
| Meanwhile police have appealed to loyalists planning to protest in Belfast city centre on Saturday not to do so. | Meanwhile police have appealed to loyalists planning to protest in Belfast city centre on Saturday not to do so. |
| "We would urge those involved in the protests, to which they have a legitimate right, to take a step back and stay out of the city centre tomorrow. The risk to the public safety of all of those involved is simply too great," said Assistant Chief Constable Will Kerr. | "We would urge those involved in the protests, to which they have a legitimate right, to take a step back and stay out of the city centre tomorrow. The risk to the public safety of all of those involved is simply too great," said Assistant Chief Constable Will Kerr. |
| He said 21 police officers had been injured while dealing with disorder this week. | He said 21 police officers had been injured while dealing with disorder this week. |
| "This behaviour is simply not acceptable. These people are only wrecking their own communities and putting innocent people's lives at risk," he said. | "This behaviour is simply not acceptable. These people are only wrecking their own communities and putting innocent people's lives at risk," he said. |
| "This mob violence and intimidation cannot be allowed to continue and I am urgently appealing to politicians and those with community influence in these areas to do what they can to put a stop to this behaviour now before someone is seriously injured or killed." | "This mob violence and intimidation cannot be allowed to continue and I am urgently appealing to politicians and those with community influence in these areas to do what they can to put a stop to this behaviour now before someone is seriously injured or killed." |
| Traders are also concerned about the plan to hold a protest on one of the busiest shopping days of the year. | Traders are also concerned about the plan to hold a protest on one of the busiest shopping days of the year. |
| There have been protests since Monday when Belfast City Council voted to fly the union flag on designated days only. | There have been protests since Monday when Belfast City Council voted to fly the union flag on designated days only. |
| Nationalists at Belfast City Council had wanted the union flag taken down altogether, but in the end voted on a compromise from the Alliance party that it would fly on designated days. | Nationalists at Belfast City Council had wanted the union flag taken down altogether, but in the end voted on a compromise from the Alliance party that it would fly on designated days. |
| Unionists have said they consider the change as an attack on their cultural identity. | Unionists have said they consider the change as an attack on their cultural identity. |