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| Northern Ireland police 'will deal with riots for as long as necessary' | Northern Ireland police 'will deal with riots for as long as necessary' |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Northern Ireland's police chief, Matt Baggott, has warned loyalist protesters his force will deal firmly with outbreaks of violence for as long as is necessary. | Northern Ireland's police chief, Matt Baggott, has warned loyalist protesters his force will deal firmly with outbreaks of violence for as long as is necessary. |
| After three nights of unrest in Belfast, Baggott said the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) would do "everything possible" to maintain law and order. | After three nights of unrest in Belfast, Baggott said the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) would do "everything possible" to maintain law and order. |
| "I want to commend the tireless courage of my officers at this very difficult time," he said. "Fifty two colleagues have now been injured while protecting the community during a series of violent incidents. You may be assured there will be sufficient resources in the event of more disorder for however long is necessary." | "I want to commend the tireless courage of my officers at this very difficult time," he said. "Fifty two colleagues have now been injured while protecting the community during a series of violent incidents. You may be assured there will be sufficient resources in the event of more disorder for however long is necessary." |
| Seventy people have been arrested in connection with the sporadic rioting over the flying of the union flag on Belfast's city hall. Forty-seven have been charged and there have been special sittings of the city's magistrates court. | Seventy people have been arrested in connection with the sporadic rioting over the flying of the union flag on Belfast's city hall. Forty-seven have been charged and there have been special sittings of the city's magistrates court. |
| On Saturday frontline officers reported coming under gunfire. A 38-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. | On Saturday frontline officers reported coming under gunfire. A 38-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. |
| More than 1,000 demonstrators had earlier marched on city hall, but despite tense scenes and some scuffles the rally passed off without major incident. | More than 1,000 demonstrators had earlier marched on city hall, but despite tense scenes and some scuffles the rally passed off without major incident. |
| As the flag-waving crowds dispersed, violence again flared on the Newtownards Road and surrounding areas in the traditionally unionist east of the city. | As the flag-waving crowds dispersed, violence again flared on the Newtownards Road and surrounding areas in the traditionally unionist east of the city. |
| A mob of around 100 loyalists hurled petrol bombs, fireworks, smoke canisters, bricks and other masonry at officers, the PSNI said. Police responded with water cannon and fired three plastic bullets. One officer was injured. | A mob of around 100 loyalists hurled petrol bombs, fireworks, smoke canisters, bricks and other masonry at officers, the PSNI said. Police responded with water cannon and fired three plastic bullets. One officer was injured. |
| Politicians and church leaders are holding talks at the Rev Mervyn Gibson's Westbourne Presbyterian church to try to forge a resolution. | Politicians and church leaders are holding talks at the Rev Mervyn Gibson's Westbourne Presbyterian church to try to forge a resolution. |
| Robin Newton, of the Democratic Unionist party, said a lack of engagement from protest organisers was making it difficult to see an end to the unrest. "We have to find a way out of this, but how we do it I don't know," he said. | Robin Newton, of the Democratic Unionist party, said a lack of engagement from protest organisers was making it difficult to see an end to the unrest. "We have to find a way out of this, but how we do it I don't know," he said. |
| The East Belfast assembly member said there was confusion about exactly what demonstrators wanted, amid calls for an end to devolution. The British National party and other far-right groups have addressed recent rallies. "I think we need a bit of calm and reflection," he said. "We need to get wise heads together." | The East Belfast assembly member said there was confusion about exactly what demonstrators wanted, amid calls for an end to devolution. The British National party and other far-right groups have addressed recent rallies. "I think we need a bit of calm and reflection," he said. "We need to get wise heads together." |
| Michael Copeland, the Ulster Unionist party assembly member for the area, said he was pessimistic about a positive outcome to the talks because there was no apparent leadership to the demonstrations. "There doesn't seem to any one person, or group of persons, that we can go to," he said. | Michael Copeland, the Ulster Unionist party assembly member for the area, said he was pessimistic about a positive outcome to the talks because there was no apparent leadership to the demonstrations. "There doesn't seem to any one person, or group of persons, that we can go to," he said. |
| Naomi Long, the Alliance Party MP for East Belfast, who received a death threat over her party's role in the flags controversy, said she had not been invited to the talks. | Naomi Long, the Alliance Party MP for East Belfast, who received a death threat over her party's role in the flags controversy, said she had not been invited to the talks. |
| Terry Spence, chairman of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, said gunfire against police officers was a worrying development. "What it quite clearly demonstrates is the fact that paramilitaries have hijacked this flags protest issue and they have now turned their guns on the police," he said. | Terry Spence, chairman of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, said gunfire against police officers was a worrying development. "What it quite clearly demonstrates is the fact that paramilitaries have hijacked this flags protest issue and they have now turned their guns on the police," he said. |
| "There is no doubt that it has been exploited by the paramilitary grouping known as the Ulster Volunteer Force, and it is very clear that there are members of the UVF, leading members of the UVF, who are exploiting this and are organising and orchestrating this violence against police officers who are out there trying to uphold the law and prevent anarchy on our streets." | "There is no doubt that it has been exploited by the paramilitary grouping known as the Ulster Volunteer Force, and it is very clear that there are members of the UVF, leading members of the UVF, who are exploiting this and are organising and orchestrating this violence against police officers who are out there trying to uphold the law and prevent anarchy on our streets." |
| Spence said it was the most challenging period the police had had to deal with in the past decade. | Spence said it was the most challenging period the police had had to deal with in the past decade. |
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