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| Version 18 | Version 19 |
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| East Belfast unrest continues as shots fired at police | East Belfast unrest continues as shots fired at police |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two of eight people arrested following Saturday's rioting in east Belfast have been charged with riotous behaviour. | |
| Police said they fired plastic bullets three times during the violence. | Police said they fired plastic bullets three times during the violence. |
| Water cannon was also used as officers came under attack from over 100 people, throwing petrol bombs, stones and fireworks. One officer was injured. | Water cannon was also used as officers came under attack from over 100 people, throwing petrol bombs, stones and fireworks. One officer was injured. |
| It was the third consecutive night of riots in the area, linked to protests over the decision not to fly the union flag above Belfast City Hall all year. | It was the third consecutive night of riots in the area, linked to protests over the decision not to fly the union flag above Belfast City Hall all year. |
| Church and political leaders are due to meet in east Belfast on Sunday afternoon to try to bring an end to the violence. | Church and political leaders are due to meet in east Belfast on Sunday afternoon to try to bring an end to the violence. |
| Police Supt Paula Hillman said officers were being subjected to "sustained, serious, violence". | |
| "They are being attacked with petrol bombs, masonry, and bricks," she said. | |
| "Lasers are also being used against police officers and those in the police helicopter. | |
| "We're sending out a very clear message to people - we respect people's rights to peaceful protest but if you are going to engage in violence, we will robustly apprehend those either by arresting them at the time or as a result of subsequent follow-up investigations and bring those people before the courts." | |
| Earlier on Saturday, a 38-year-old man was held on suspicion of attempted murder after shots were reportedly fired at police. | Earlier on Saturday, a 38-year-old man was held on suspicion of attempted murder after shots were reportedly fired at police. |
| During the day a protest took place in the city centre over Belfast council's decision to only fly the union flag on designated days. | During the day a protest took place in the city centre over Belfast council's decision to only fly the union flag on designated days. |
| Up to 1,000 loyalists demonstrated outside Belfast City Hall. | Up to 1,000 loyalists demonstrated outside Belfast City Hall. |
| Police said they later dealt with public disorder in a number of locations including Templemore Avenue and the Albertbridge Road. | Police said they later dealt with public disorder in a number of locations including Templemore Avenue and the Albertbridge Road. |
| Bricks, bottles, fireworks and smoke canisters were thrown by the rioters on the Lower Newtownards Road. | Bricks, bottles, fireworks and smoke canisters were thrown by the rioters on the Lower Newtownards Road. |
| The officer who was injured did not require hospital treatment. | The officer who was injured did not require hospital treatment. |
| The chairman of the Police Federation, Terry Spence, said he had no doubt that paramilitaries had been involved in the violence. | The chairman of the Police Federation, Terry Spence, said he had no doubt that paramilitaries had been involved in the violence. |
| He said: "This is a very sinister development and quite clearly the police came under fire this afternoon from a gunman. | He said: "This is a very sinister development and quite clearly the police came under fire this afternoon from a gunman. |
| "What it clearly does demonstrate is that there has been paramilitary involvement in these attacks on police and it has been orchestrated, in the case of east Belfast, by the UVF (Ulster Volunteer Force)." | "What it clearly does demonstrate is that there has been paramilitary involvement in these attacks on police and it has been orchestrated, in the case of east Belfast, by the UVF (Ulster Volunteer Force)." |
| However, Democratic Unionist assembly member Robin Newton said it was too early to say whether the violence had been organised. | However, Democratic Unionist assembly member Robin Newton said it was too early to say whether the violence had been organised. |
| "I'm going to wait until the police actually indicate that from their intelligence, they haven't indicated that these riots have been orchestrated by the UVF," he said. | "I'm going to wait until the police actually indicate that from their intelligence, they haven't indicated that these riots have been orchestrated by the UVF," he said. |
| "We do need to be concerned about the number of injuries on the police officers - this is just not a good situation for the east of the city." | "We do need to be concerned about the number of injuries on the police officers - this is just not a good situation for the east of the city." |
| Three other men were arrested during earlier trouble which happened close to the nationalist Short Strand area. | Three other men were arrested during earlier trouble which happened close to the nationalist Short Strand area. |
| Some loyalists claimed it was sparked when they were attacked by republicans. | Some loyalists claimed it was sparked when they were attacked by republicans. |
| Police responded to the attacks on them by using water cannon. | Police responded to the attacks on them by using water cannon. |
| Third night | Third night |
| It was the third consecutive night that police have been attacked in Belfast. | It was the third consecutive night that police have been attacked in Belfast. |
| Nineteen officers have been injured since Thursday and 27 people arrested. | Nineteen officers have been injured since Thursday and 27 people arrested. |
| Thirteen people appeared at a special sitting of Belfast Magistrates Court on Saturday night charged in connection with the recent rioting in east Belfast. | Thirteen people appeared at a special sitting of Belfast Magistrates Court on Saturday night charged in connection with the recent rioting in east Belfast. |
| Eleven men and one woman were remanded in custody. One woman was released on bail to attend a hospital appointment. | Eleven men and one woman were remanded in custody. One woman was released on bail to attend a hospital appointment. |
| The special two-hour sitting was before Judge George Connor. It is understood there is to be another special sitting on Sunday. | The special two-hour sitting was before Judge George Connor. It is understood there is to be another special sitting on Sunday. |
| A campaign of street demonstrations has been ongoing since Belfast City Council took a vote on 3 December which limited the number of days the union flag is flown at Belfast City Hall. | A campaign of street demonstrations has been ongoing since Belfast City Council took a vote on 3 December which limited the number of days the union flag is flown at Belfast City Hall. |
| Since then 52 police officers have been injured in violence linked to the protests and 70 people have been arrested, 45 of whom have been charged with public order offences. | Since then 52 police officers have been injured in violence linked to the protests and 70 people have been arrested, 45 of whom have been charged with public order offences. |