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| Belfast flag protests: Loyalists clash with police after rally | Belfast flag protests: Loyalists clash with police after rally |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A police officer has been taken to hospital after being injured in clashes with loyalists in east Belfast. | A police officer has been taken to hospital after being injured in clashes with loyalists in east Belfast. |
| Earlier up to 2,000 people took part in a loyalist protest outside Belfast City Hall, which has stopped flying the union flag every day. | Earlier up to 2,000 people took part in a loyalist protest outside Belfast City Hall, which has stopped flying the union flag every day. |
| Afterwards trouble broke out on the Newtownards Road. Police are describing this as "pockets of disorder". | Afterwards trouble broke out on the Newtownards Road. Police are describing this as "pockets of disorder". |
| Senior PSNI officers have said loyalist paramilitaries have organised some of the recent violence over flags. | Senior PSNI officers have said loyalist paramilitaries have organised some of the recent violence over flags. |
| Bricks and other missiles are being thrown at police officers and a car has been set on fire. Two PSNI water cannon have been sent into east Belfast. | Bricks and other missiles are being thrown at police officers and a car has been set on fire. Two PSNI water cannon have been sent into east Belfast. |
| In Belfast on Friday, eight officers were injured and 13 people arrested in clashes between loyalists and police. | In Belfast on Friday, eight officers were injured and 13 people arrested in clashes between loyalists and police. |
| Among those arrested was a boy aged 13. | Among those arrested was a boy aged 13. |
| Loyalists opposed to new restrictions on flying the union flag at Belfast city hall have been holding protests across Northern Ireland all week after the city council voted to fly the flag on about 20 designated days. | Loyalists opposed to new restrictions on flying the union flag at Belfast city hall have been holding protests across Northern Ireland all week after the city council voted to fly the flag on about 20 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. | 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 changes regarding the union flag to be an attack on their cultural identity and there have been protests in different parts of Northern Ireland since it was taken. | |
| There was also a small protest at a football match in County Fermanagh on Saturday. Demonstrators took to the pitch at half-time during the Irish League game between Ballinamallard and Belfast side Linfield. | |
| Assistant Chief Constable Will Kerr, of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, said: "Loyalist paramilitary groups are now actively involved in orchestrating this disorder and we've seen that in various parts of the greater Belfast area over the course of the last couple of nights." | Assistant Chief Constable Will Kerr, of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, said: "Loyalist paramilitary groups are now actively involved in orchestrating this disorder and we've seen that in various parts of the greater Belfast area over the course of the last couple of nights." |
| He said members of both the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) and Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) have been involved. | He said members of both the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) and Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) have been involved. |
| "We've seen members of both groups actively involved in the violence, we're now seeing senior members actively involved in orchestrating the violence." | "We've seen members of both groups actively involved in the violence, we're now seeing senior members actively involved in orchestrating the violence." |
| The home of an Alliance party councillor was attacked in County Down overnight. | The home of an Alliance party councillor was attacked in County Down overnight. |
| The party said windows were smashed and a car also damaged at Linda Cleland's house in Newtownards. | The party said windows were smashed and a car also damaged at Linda Cleland's house in Newtownards. |
| "I saw this tall hooded person in my garden - I have a rockery - and they were lifting the boulders," Councillor Cleland said. | "I saw this tall hooded person in my garden - I have a rockery - and they were lifting the boulders," Councillor Cleland said. |
| "There were more bangs and I heard people on the roof and then I phoned 999. | "There were more bangs and I heard people on the roof and then I phoned 999. |
| "They've literally put in all my downstairs windows, they've put in all the windows of my car and they've put in one of my upstairs windows. I have never been so scared in my life, or felt so helpless." | "They've literally put in all my downstairs windows, they've put in all the windows of my car and they've put in one of my upstairs windows. I have never been so scared in my life, or felt so helpless." |
| Belfast's Christmas Market was temporarily closed and politicians have warned that the economy is being damaged on what should be some of the year's busiest shopping days. | Belfast's Christmas Market was temporarily closed and politicians have warned that the economy is being damaged on what should be some of the year's busiest shopping days. |
| ACC Kerr said 27 police officers had been injured while dealing with disorder this week. | ACC Kerr said 27 police officers had been injured while dealing with disorder this week. |
| Politicians have appealed for the protests to stop. | Politicians have appealed for the protests to stop. |