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Belfast flags trouble: Plastic bullets fired at protestors Belfast flags trouble: Plastic bullets fired at protesters
(about 5 hours later)
Plastic bullets have been fired by police during a fifth night of rioting in east Belfast, the PSNI has said.Plastic bullets have been fired by police during a fifth night of rioting in east Belfast, the PSNI has said.
The disorder began close to the nationalist Short Strand area as loyalists returned from a protest at Belfast City Hall.The disorder began close to the nationalist Short Strand area as loyalists returned from a protest at Belfast City Hall.
Police were attacked with petrol bombs and bricks by loyalists.Police were attacked with petrol bombs and bricks by loyalists.
Protests have been held since councillors voted on 3 December to limit the days when the union flag flies over City Hall.Protests have been held since councillors voted on 3 December to limit the days when the union flag flies over City Hall.
Four hundred people attended what police described as a "largely peaceful" protest outside City Hall between 18:00 and 19:00 GMT on Monday.Four hundred people attended what police described as a "largely peaceful" protest outside City Hall between 18:00 and 19:00 GMT on Monday.
Serious trouble broke out as around 250 of the protestors passed the Short Strand on their return to east Belfast. Serious trouble broke out as about 250 of the protesters passed the Short Strand on their return to east Belfast.
A number of missiles were thrown by nationalists as they passed.A number of missiles were thrown by nationalists as they passed.
Violence Road barricade
Police then came under attack as they tried to move loyalists up the Lower Newtownards Road.Police then came under attack as they tried to move loyalists up the Lower Newtownards Road.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said five plastic bullets were discharged due to the "level of violence" that police were subjected to.The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said five plastic bullets were discharged due to the "level of violence" that police were subjected to.
Loyalist protestors set up a barricade in the middle of the road and set it alight. Loyalist protesters set up a barricade in the middle of the road and set it alight.
Police received reports of two attempted hijackings of a car and a lorry in the area.Police received reports of two attempted hijackings of a car and a lorry in the area.
Two men and two women were arrested for riot and public order offences. Order was restored at about 22:00 GMT. Two men and two women were arrested for riot and public order offences.
Petrol bombs, fireworks and other missiles were also thrown at police during rioting on Robbs Road in Dundonald on Monday evening. Petrol bombs, fireworks and other missiles were also thrown at police during rioting on Robbs Road in Dundonald on Monday evening. A car was set on fire in Bute Park.
A car was set on fire in Bute Park. Earlier, PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott said individual senior loyalist paramilitaries had been involved in orchestrating violence during union flag protests in east Belfast.
Earlier, PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott said that individual senior loyalist paramilitaries had been involved in orchestrating violence during union flag protests in east Belfast.
Mr Baggott said there was "no excuse whatsoever" for violence.Mr Baggott said there was "no excuse whatsoever" for violence.
He said if protests continued in the long-term, day-to-day policing would be affected.He said if protests continued in the long-term, day-to-day policing would be affected.
This included his officers' ability to deal with the threat from dissident republicans, he added.This included his officers' ability to deal with the threat from dissident republicans, he added.
Young people
Sixty-two officers have been injured since the protests began.Sixty-two officers have been injured since the protests began.
Young people
Councillors met on Monday evening for the first time since the vote was taken on 3 December.Councillors met on Monday evening for the first time since the vote was taken on 3 December.
The first of the designated flag days will be Wednesday 9 January, the Duchess of Cambridge's birthday.The first of the designated flag days will be Wednesday 9 January, the Duchess of Cambridge's birthday.
A large security operation was put in place around Belfast City Hall ahead of the meeting. A loyalist protest was held outside city hall but it passed off peacefully.A large security operation was put in place around Belfast City Hall ahead of the meeting. A loyalist protest was held outside city hall but it passed off peacefully.
The chief constable confirmed that since the flag protests began, 96 people have been arrested, including a "significant number" of young people. Despite loyalist protests outside the building, the new flag policy was not overturned.
BBC Ireland correspondent Mark Simpson said it was now clear there was no prospect of the the council changing its mind on the issue - but the protesters said their campaign would continue.
The chief constable confirmed that since the flag protests began, 96 people had been arrested, including a "significant number" of young people.
Mr Baggott said he was concerned that children as young as 10 were becoming involved in rioting.Mr Baggott said he was concerned that children as young as 10 were becoming involved in rioting.
He said many were out on the streets "without parental control" and were at risk of "blighting their own future".He said many were out on the streets "without parental control" and were at risk of "blighting their own future".
"At a time when we are working desperately hard with the tourist board, investment agencies, foreign investors, to present the right picture of Northern Ireland as a place that's worthy of investment, many of those young people who may benefit from that will now have convictions," he said."At a time when we are working desperately hard with the tourist board, investment agencies, foreign investors, to present the right picture of Northern Ireland as a place that's worthy of investment, many of those young people who may benefit from that will now have convictions," he said.
'No excuse''No excuse'
On Sunday night, a protest took place near the nationalist Short Strand area of Belfast. Later, as hundreds of protesters went up Castlereagh Street bricks, barriers and bottles were thrown at police.On Sunday night, a protest took place near the nationalist Short Strand area of Belfast. 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 members of the UVF (Ulster Volunteer Force) in east Belfast - as individuals - have been increasingly orchestrating some of this violence.Mr Baggott told a press conference on Monday: "I am concerned that senior members of the UVF (Ulster Volunteer Force) 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.""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."
Billy Hutchinson, leader of the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) which has links with the UVF, said he intended to hold talks with the group.Billy Hutchinson, leader of the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) which has links with the UVF, said he intended to hold talks with the group.
"If this is the chief constable's assessment, then what I am saying to people in east Belfast, people belonging to the UVF, please desist from being involved in violence," he said."If this is the chief constable's assessment, then what I am saying to people in east Belfast, people belonging to the UVF, please desist from being involved in violence," he said.
"My understanding, having talked to the leadership, is that there are no splits and what I am saying is that the PUP and others will talk to the UVF in east Belfast in and around the problems that exist.""My understanding, having talked to the leadership, is that there are no splits and what I am saying is that the PUP and others will talk to the UVF in east Belfast in and around the problems that exist."
Are you in Belfast? Have you been affected by the trouble? You can send us your experiences using the form below.Are you in Belfast? Have you been affected by the trouble? You can send us your experiences using the form below.