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Belfast flags trouble: Fourth night of street violence Belfast flags trouble: PSNI chief says senior UVF members are involved
(about 2 hours later)
Police in east Belfast have faced a fourth consecutive night of loyalist violence over a decision to limit the days the union flag flies over City Hall. The PSNI chief constable has confirmed that individual, senior loyalist paramilitaries have been involved in orchestrating violence during union flag protests in east Belfast.
A protest took place near the nationalist Short Strand area. Matt Baggott said there was "no excuse whatsoever" for violence.
Later, as hundreds of protesters went up Castlereagh Street bricks, barriers and bottles were thrown at police. He said if protests continued in the long term, day-to-day policing would affected.
A senior police officer said it was too early to say if loyalist paramilitaries were organising the violence. This included his officers' ability to deal with the threat from dissident republicans, he added.
Chief Superintendent Alan McCrum said the past five weeks had been challenging for the PSNI. Mr Baggott said he was also concerned that children as young as 11 were becoming involved in rioting.
"It's right to say that there undoubtedly are individuals from within the UVF in east Belfast who are involved," he said. The chief constable confirmed that since the flag protests began at the beginning of December, 96 people have been arrested, including a "significant number" of young people.
"It's probably premature to say they are orchestrating or fundamentally organising the disorder." He said many were out on the streets "without parental control" and were at risk of "blighting their own future".
The chief constable was speaking after his officers faced a fourth consecutive night of loyalist violence over a decision to limit the days the union flag flies over Belfast City Hall.
A protest took place near the nationalist Short Strand area. Later, as hundreds of protesters went up Castlereagh Street bricks, barriers and bottles were thrown at police.
Mr Baggott told a press conference on Monday: "I am concerned that senior member of the UVF in east Belfast as individuals have been increasingly orchestrating some of this violence.
"That is utterly unacceptable and is being done for their own selfish motives. There is no excuse whatsoever for violence, as we've said, and we will be investigating that and taking the appropriate action."
Belfast City Council is to meet for the first time on Monday night since the 3 December vote.Belfast City Council is to meet for the first time on Monday night since the 3 December vote.
Meanwhile, a 38-year-old man who was arrested during more widespread trouble on Saturday has been charged with possession of a gun, riotous behaviour and refusing to remove a disguise.Meanwhile, a 38-year-old man who was arrested during more widespread trouble on Saturday has been charged with possession of a gun, riotous behaviour and refusing to remove a disguise.
He is due to appear at Belfast Magistrate's Court on Monday.He is due to appear at Belfast Magistrate's Court on Monday.
A 52-year-old man is also due before the same court, charged with disorderly behaviour in connection with the trouble in the city.A 52-year-old man is also due before the same court, charged with disorderly behaviour in connection with the trouble in the city.
InjuredInjured
A campaign of street protests have taken place since the Belfast City Council vote.A campaign of street protests have taken place since the Belfast City Council vote.
The BBC's Chris Buckler said most of the demonstrations had been peaceful but after three consecutive evenings of violence, community and political leaders met on Sunday to discuss how the trouble could be brought to an end.The BBC's Chris Buckler said most of the demonstrations had been peaceful but after three consecutive evenings of violence, community and political leaders met on Sunday to discuss how the trouble could be brought to an end.
Reverend Mervyn Gibson organised the meeting.Reverend Mervyn Gibson organised the meeting.
"People have been injured and a lot of properties have been damaged. We need to get it stopped as quickly as possible," Mr Gibson said."People have been injured and a lot of properties have been damaged. We need to get it stopped as quickly as possible," Mr Gibson said.
"People are putting their minds to this, people are trying their best to see how do we do that."People are putting their minds to this, people are trying their best to see how do we do that.
"People are fearful and that's what we want to address, get back to some sort of normality here in east Belfast.""People are fearful and that's what we want to address, get back to some sort of normality here in east Belfast."
But one of those at the meeting, Democratic Unionist Party assembly member Robin Newton, said a lack of engagement from the protest organisers was making it difficult to see an end to the unrest.But one of those at the meeting, Democratic Unionist Party assembly member Robin Newton, said a lack of engagement from the protest organisers was making it difficult to see an end to the unrest.
Our correspondent added the political make-up of the council means the decision over the union flag would not be reversed and it is not even clear if councillors will discuss the issue when they gather on Monday night.Our correspondent added the political make-up of the council means the decision over the union flag would not be reversed and it is not even clear if councillors will discuss the issue when they gather on Monday night.
At the weekend, Northern Ireland's chief constable, Matt Baggott, warned police will "deal firmly" with further outbreaks of violence. Some 52 officers have been injured since the protests began. Some 52 officers have been injured since the protests began.