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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Belfast: Heavy police presence ahead of anti-internment parade | Belfast: Heavy police presence ahead of anti-internment parade |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| There is a heavy police presence in Belfast city centre ahead of a republican anti-internment parade on Sunday afternoon. | There is a heavy police presence in Belfast city centre ahead of a republican anti-internment parade on Sunday afternoon. |
| Earlier, police made a direct appeal to the event's organisers to discuss the planned route and timing with them. | Earlier, police made a direct appeal to the event's organisers to discuss the planned route and timing with them. |
| Police are concerned that the march may not comply with a Parades Commission determination. | Police are concerned that the march may not comply with a Parades Commission determination. |
| They said they had made attempts to talk to the group themselves, but they had not been successful. | They said they had made attempts to talk to the group themselves, but they had not been successful. |
| The march has been organised by the Anti-Internment League to mark the introduction of detention without trial during the height of the Troubles. | |
| Road closures | Road closures |
| Three loyalist groups have organised counter-protests, with a number of demonstrators gathering at a police cordon on Royal Avenue. | |
| The Parades Commission had imposed a timing restriction, and said the parade "must have fully cleared the Divis Street/Millfield junction by 13:30 [BST]". | |
| It has been reported that the organisers intend to delay the start of the parade until 14:00. | |
| Some roads in the city centre have already been closed including North Street, Royal Avenue and High Street. | Some roads in the city centre have already been closed including North Street, Royal Avenue and High Street. |
| Translink has said some of its services will operate via Dunbar Link until further notice. | |
| 'Appeal for calm' | 'Appeal for calm' |
| In a statement, Police Service of Northern Ireland Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Martin said: "We are continuing to appeal for calm for today's events. | In a statement, Police Service of Northern Ireland Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Martin said: "We are continuing to appeal for calm for today's events. |
| "Despite our best efforts none of the people responsible for today's parade have come forward to engage with police to clarify their intentions. | "Despite our best efforts none of the people responsible for today's parade have come forward to engage with police to clarify their intentions. |
| "A substantial police operation is currently in place and we will do everything we can to keep people safe and protect and uphold the rights of all involved. | "A substantial police operation is currently in place and we will do everything we can to keep people safe and protect and uphold the rights of all involved. |
| "The police intention is to uphold the Parade's Commission determinations." | "The police intention is to uphold the Parade's Commission determinations." |
| At the same event two years ago, 56 officers were injured when loyalists protesters attacked the police. | At the same event two years ago, 56 officers were injured when loyalists protesters attacked the police. |