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| Union flag protests: Police attacked and traffic disrupted | Union flag protests: Police attacked and traffic disrupted |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Four police officers have been injured during rioting linked to union flag protests in Northern Ireland. | Four police officers have been injured during rioting linked to union flag protests in Northern Ireland. |
| Police fired five plastic bullets as rioters threw more than 30 petrol bombs. The most serious violence took place in parts of County Antrim. | Police fired five plastic bullets as rioters threw more than 30 petrol bombs. The most serious violence took place in parts of County Antrim. |
| A crowd of over 100 loyalists threw missiles at police in Carrickfergus. | A crowd of over 100 loyalists threw missiles at police in Carrickfergus. |
| Fireworks, petrol bombs and rocks were used to attack police in the O'Neill's Road area of Newtownabbey. A bus was set alight near the Rathcoole estate. | Fireworks, petrol bombs and rocks were used to attack police in the O'Neill's Road area of Newtownabbey. A bus was set alight near the Rathcoole estate. |
| Meanwhile, a viable pipe bomb was found after a security alert on the Westlink, Belfast's busiest road. | Meanwhile, a viable pipe bomb was found after a security alert on the Westlink, Belfast's busiest road. |
| Loyalist street protests have being taking place for almost six weeks, since Belfast City Council voted to change its longstanding union flag policy on 3 December. | Loyalist street protests have being taking place for almost six weeks, since Belfast City Council voted to change its longstanding union flag policy on 3 December. |
| The council, which now has a nationalist majority, voted to fly the flag at Belfast City Hall on a number of designated days, as opposed to every day of the year. | The council, which now has a nationalist majority, voted to fly the flag at Belfast City Hall on a number of designated days, as opposed to every day of the year. |
| The majority of the street demonstrations have passed without incident, but some have resulted in serious rioting. | The majority of the street demonstrations have passed without incident, but some have resulted in serious rioting. |
| Dozens of police officers have been injured in almost 40 days of protests and more than 100 people have been arrested. | Dozens of police officers have been injured in almost 40 days of protests and more than 100 people have been arrested. |
| On Friday night, two arrests were made. Of the four police officers who were injured, one required hospital treatment. | On Friday night, two arrests were made. Of the four police officers who were injured, one required hospital treatment. |
| A PSNI spokesman said police "will continue to pursue a vigorous evidence gathering operation to bring those involved in the violence to justice". | A PSNI spokesman said police "will continue to pursue a vigorous evidence gathering operation to bring those involved in the violence to justice". |
| Friday's protests - most of which passed without violence - took place in Counties Antrim, Armagh, Down, and Londonderry. | Friday's protests - most of which passed without violence - took place in Counties Antrim, Armagh, Down, and Londonderry. |
| They began in some areas at 15:00 GMT, causing disruption to traffic and blocking and many arterial routes in Belfast. | They began in some areas at 15:00 GMT, causing disruption to traffic and blocking and many arterial routes in Belfast. |
| Translink withdrew all its bus services in Belfast, apart from Falls Road services and buses to Belfast International Airport. | Translink withdrew all its bus services in Belfast, apart from Falls Road services and buses to Belfast International Airport. |
| There have been no reports of violence in the city itself and all roads are now open again. | There have been no reports of violence in the city itself and all roads are now open again. |
| However, in County Antrim, police used water cannon during trouble on the Shore Road in Whiteabbey and also in Newtownabbey, where a PSNI Land Rover with a CCTV camera on the roof was set alight with a petrol bomb. | However, in County Antrim, police used water cannon during trouble on the Shore Road in Whiteabbey and also in Newtownabbey, where a PSNI Land Rover with a CCTV camera on the roof was set alight with a petrol bomb. |
| In Rathcoole in Newtownabbey, a distressed pensioner pleaded with protesters to let him pass through a road block so he could make his way to visit his seriously ill wife in hospital. | In Rathcoole in Newtownabbey, a distressed pensioner pleaded with protesters to let him pass through a road block so he could make his way to visit his seriously ill wife in hospital. |
| The protesters jeered at the elderly man and refused to let him through. | The protesters jeered at the elderly man and refused to let him through. |
| Stewart Dickson, an Alliance MLA for East Antrim, said the protests on Friday night had caused "widespread misery". | Stewart Dickson, an Alliance MLA for East Antrim, said the protests on Friday night had caused "widespread misery". |
| He said: "This violence is unacceptable, these rioters are harming their own community. The scenes in Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey are a disgrace. | He said: "This violence is unacceptable, these rioters are harming their own community. The scenes in Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey are a disgrace. |
| "This was just wanton violence. These protests have got nothing to do with a flag, it is about a major disconnect that has developed between protestors and those unionists that they have previously looked to for political representation." | "This was just wanton violence. These protests have got nothing to do with a flag, it is about a major disconnect that has developed between protestors and those unionists that they have previously looked to for political representation." |
| Last month, Mr Dickson's Alliance party office in Carrickfergus was severely damaged in an arson attack - one of several attacks on the homes and offices of political representatives since the protests began. | Last month, Mr Dickson's Alliance party office in Carrickfergus was severely damaged in an arson attack - one of several attacks on the homes and offices of political representatives since the protests began. |
| In Belfast, thousands of Ulster rugby supporters encountered delays getting to Ravenhill stadium in the east of the city for Friday night's Heineken Cup pool match between Ulster and Glasgow. | In Belfast, thousands of Ulster rugby supporters encountered delays getting to Ravenhill stadium in the east of the city for Friday night's Heineken Cup pool match between Ulster and Glasgow. |
| There were also protests in Glasgow and in Liverpool at 18:00 GMT on Friday. | There were also protests in Glasgow and in Liverpool at 18:00 GMT on Friday. |
| Operation Sit In | Operation Sit In |
| Meanwhile, people used social media to initiate Operation Sit In - a counter to the protests that encouraged people to come out regardless and support their local pubs or restaurants. | Meanwhile, people used social media to initiate Operation Sit In - a counter to the protests that encouraged people to come out regardless and support their local pubs or restaurants. |
| Stephen Magorrian, the managing director of Botanic Inns, said people could have a great night out in the city centre. | Stephen Magorrian, the managing director of Botanic Inns, said people could have a great night out in the city centre. |
| "There is great entertainment, so stay in the city. We need the support. | "There is great entertainment, so stay in the city. We need the support. |
| "Things are still going and we have some of the best restaurants and bars, but if we don't support them we will lose them." | "Things are still going and we have some of the best restaurants and bars, but if we don't support them we will lose them." |