This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-20940126

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 7 Version 8
Belfast flags trouble: Plastic bullets fired at protesters Belfast flags trouble: Plastic bullets fired at protesters
(about 2 hours later)
Plastic bullets were fired during a fifth night of rioting in Belfast, Northern Ireland police have said. Police have fired plastic bullets during a fifth consecutive night of riots during flag protests in Belfast.
The PSNI said weapons, including hatchets and sledge hammers, were used to attack police officers and their vehicles on Newtownards Road.
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. Four people were arrested, bringing the total since the protests began to 100.
Protests have been held since councillors voted on 3 December to limit the days when the union flag flies over City Hall. Street demonstrations have been held since councillors voted on 3 December to limit the days when the union flag flies over Belfast 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. On Monday, 400 people attended what police described as a "largely peaceful" protest outside City Hall between 18:00 and 19:00 GMT.
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.
Road barricadeRoad barricade
Police then came under attack as they tried to move loyalists up the Lower Newtownards Road. Trouble broke out as about 250 of the protesters passed the Short Strand on their return to east Belfast.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said five plastic bullets were discharged due to the "level of violence" that police were subjected to. They were attacked by a crowd of up to 70 nationalists who had gathered at the interface.
The nationalists threw a number of missiles, including bottles, at the loyalist protesters as they passed.
Police worked to disperse the crowd at Short Strand, and when they tried to move the flag protesters up the Lower Newtownards Road, officers were attacked with petrol bombs, bricks, stones and bottles.
The PSNI said five plastic bullets were fired and water cannon were deployed due to the "level of violence" that officers were subjected to.
Loyalist protesters 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.
Order was restored at about 22:00 GMT. 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. A car was set on fire in Bute Park. Petrol bombs, fireworks and other missiles were also thrown at police during rioting on Robbs Road in Dundonald on Monday evening.
Earlier, PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott said individual senior loyalist paramilitaries had been involved in orchestrating violence during union flag protests in east Belfast. A car was set on fire in Bute Park.
Mr Baggott said there was "no excuse whatsoever" for violence. Orchestrated violence
He said if protests continued in the long-term, day-to-day policing would be affected. Sixty-two PSNI officers have been injured since the protests began.
This included his officers' ability to deal with the threat from dissident republicans, he added. The meeting at Belfast City Hall on Monday was the first time the council has met since the flag vote was taken on 3 December.
Sixty-two officers have been injured since the protests began. The first of the designated flag days will be Wednesday 9 January, to mark the birthday of the Duchess of Cambridge.
Young people A large security operation was put in place around City Hall ahead of the meeting.
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.
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.
Despite loyalist protests outside the building, the new flag policy was not overturned.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.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. Earlier on Monday, PSNI Chief Constable, Matt Baggott, said individual senior loyalist paramilitaries had been involved in orchestrating violence during union flag protests in east Belfast.
Mr Baggott said he was concerned that children as young as 10 were becoming involved in rioting. Mr Baggott said if protests continued in the long-term, day-to-day policing would be affected, including his officers' ability to deal with the threat from dissident republicans, he added.
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.
'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.
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."
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.
"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.