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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| East Belfast trouble follows union flag protest | East Belfast trouble follows union flag protest |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Police are investigating reports that shots have been fired at them during rioting in east Belfast on Saturday. | Police are investigating reports that shots have been fired at them during rioting in east Belfast on Saturday. |
| A 38-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. | A 38-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. |
| About 100 loyalists attacked officers with bricks, bottles, fireworks and smoke canisters. Police used water cannon in response. | About 100 loyalists attacked officers with bricks, bottles, fireworks and smoke canisters. Police used water cannon in response. |
| Earlier on Saturday, up to 1,000 loyalists protested outside Belfast City Hall over the decision to fly the union flag only on designated days. | Earlier on Saturday, up to 1,000 loyalists protested outside Belfast City Hall over the decision to fly the union flag only on designated days. |
| The chairman of the Police Federation, Terry Spence, said he had no doubt that paramilitaries had been involved in the violence. | |
| "This is a very sinister development and quite clearly the police came under fire this afternoon from a gunman," he said. | |
| "I think 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)." | |
| The Lower Newtownards Road has been reopened to traffic, but police remain in the area. | |
| Two other men were arrested during the trouble which happened close to the nationalist Short Strand area. | Two other men were arrested during the 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. |
| Petrol bombs and missiles | Petrol bombs and missiles |
| It is the the third consecutive day that police have been attacked in Belfast. | It is the the third consecutive day that police have been attacked in Belfast. |
| Seven men and two women will appear at a special sitting of Belfast Magistrates Court later charged with various public order offences in relation to rioting on Friday night. | Seven men and two women will appear at a special sitting of Belfast Magistrates Court later charged with various public order offences in relation to rioting on Friday night. |
| Nine police officers were injured and 19 people arrested during rioting in east Belfast and Newtownabbey. | |
| More than 30 petrol bombs and other missiles were thrown at police in east Belfast. | More than 30 petrol bombs and other missiles were thrown at police in east Belfast. |
| In Newtownabbey, police were attacked by a crowd throwing bricks and bottles. | In Newtownabbey, police were attacked by a crowd throwing bricks and bottles. |
| Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson described the violence against the police as a "disgrace". | Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson described the violence against the police as a "disgrace". |
| He said those behind the recent unrest were playing into the hands of dissident republicans. | He said those behind the recent unrest were playing into the hands of dissident republicans. |
| Trouble broke out on Friday in Castlereagh Street and Templemore Avenue, east Belfast, close to where 10 officers were injured in rioting on Thursday night. | Trouble broke out on Friday in Castlereagh Street and Templemore Avenue, east Belfast, close to where 10 officers were injured in rioting on Thursday night. |
| A PSNI spokesman said officers had come under "sustained attack" from crowds of up to 300 people using fireworks, bricks and petrol bombs. | A PSNI spokesman said officers had come under "sustained attack" from crowds of up to 300 people using fireworks, bricks and petrol bombs. |
| Eight officers were injured, including a female officer who required medical treatment in an ambulance at the scene. | Eight officers were injured, including a female officer who required medical treatment in an ambulance at the scene. |
| Protest | Protest |
| It was reported that three attempts were made to hijack vehicles in nearby Beersbridge Road. A water canon was deployed but not used. | It was reported that three attempts were made to hijack vehicles in nearby Beersbridge Road. A water canon was deployed but not used. |
| Police said 14 arrests took place during the disorder. | Police said 14 arrests took place during the disorder. |
| An officer was also injured during a protest in O'Neill Road in Newtownabbey, a town north of Belfast. | An officer was also injured during a protest in O'Neill Road in Newtownabbey, a town north of Belfast. |
| Police were attacked with bricks and bottles. | Police were attacked with bricks and bottles. |
| An attempt was made to hijack a bus in the area and commercial premises on O'Neill Road were broken into by several masked men who damaged the property and stole a sum of money. | An attempt was made to hijack a bus in the area and commercial premises on O'Neill Road were broken into by several masked men who damaged the property and stole a sum of money. |
| One person was arrested. | One person was arrested. |
| Earlier, in Dundonald, police cleared a protest close to the Ulster Hospital. Three people were arrested. | Earlier, in Dundonald, police cleared a protest close to the Ulster Hospital. Three people were arrested. |
| 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. |
| Some of the protests have resulted in violence. | Some of the protests have resulted in violence. |
| To date, more than 40 police officers have been hurt, several politicians have received death threats and homes and property have been damaged. | To date, more than 40 police officers have been hurt, several politicians have received death threats and homes and property have been damaged. |