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Eight policemen were injured in riots in a loyal part of Belfast.
Officers were attacked on Sandy Row by a crowd of mostly youths throwing bottles, bricks and fireworks.
In a statement on the Northern Ireland Police Service Twitter account, Belfast District Commander-in-Chief Simon Walls called for calm.
“So far, eight officers have been injured after being subjected to a sustained attack by rioters who have thrown various objects at the police, including heavy masonry, metal bars, fireworks and manhole covers,” he said.
“His injuries include burns, head and leg injuries. Seven people have been arrested at the scene.
“I call on everyone involved to stop this appalling behavior immediately. The police are trying to protect those who live in the Shaftesbury Square, Donegall Road and Sandy Row areas and it is completely unacceptable that my officers are being attacked in a sustained manner.
Loyalists get involved in violent riots in Belfast on Friday night. Photograph: Charles McQuillan / Getty
“I would encourage anyone with influence to use it now and stop the riots before someone else gets hurt, or worse.
“Local communities don’t want to be dragged into the past. They deserve to live in safe and peaceful areas, free from riots, violence and wanton destruction of their communities. “
The Friday night incident began in the Shaftesbury Square area before moving to nearby Sandy Row.
The problem came after four successive nights of rioting in the unionist Waterside area of Derry.
Disorder has erupted amid continuing tensions within the loyalty in Northern Ireland.
Loyalists and trade unionists are angered by post-Brexit trade deals that they say have created barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. Tensions escalated further this week following a controversial decision not to prosecute 24 Sinn Féin politicians for attending a large-scale Republican funeral during Covid-19 restrictions.
Following the decision not to take action against politicians, including Deputy Prime Minister Michelle O’Neill, all the major unionist parties have demanded the resignation of PSNI Police Chief Simon Byrne, claiming that he has lost the trust of his community.
The Sandy Row riots, which unfolded before a planned loyalist protest in the area, was met with widespread political condemnation Friday night. However, the main non-union parties also accused union leaders of creating the feverish climate and stoking tensions.
Alliance Justice Minister Naomi Long said: “This does not benefit anyone, not the officers who deal with it or most of the young people who risk their future by participating in it.
“It is incumbent on leaders to behave responsibly and reduce the inflammatory rhetoric of the past few days. Words have consequences. “
Disorder
SDLP South Belfast MP Claire Hanna tweeted: “Sad to see the mess on Sandy Row. The usual suspects without vision create tension in search of electoral gains, which they never use to improve the lives of those they claim to represent. History repeats itself, people lose hope, children have criminal records, communities separate. There is a better way. “
DUP MLA for the area Christopher Stalford said: “Given the actions of the Deputy Prime Minister, some people may believe that they can break the rules.
“That is not the case, two mistakes do not do good.
“The vast majority of the people involved in this incident were under the age of 18.
“I don’t want to see young people who behave frustrated by recent events, get in trouble with the law and end up with a criminal record.
“Everyone must be equal before the law and be equally subject to it, from the highest official in the country to any other citizen.”
Sinn Féin MP for West Belfast, Paul Maskey, said: “The DUP and political unionism are failing working-class union communities through their dangerous and irresponsible rhetoric that continues to provoke heightened tensions.
“This is a time of calm and responsible leadership.
“I call on the DUP and political unionism to show leadership, put an end to their dangerous rhetoric and ensure an urgent reduction in tensions.”
In response to the incident, Ulster MLA Unionist Doug Beattie tweeted: “Please stop … this is not going to help anyone or change anything. It hurts and endangers your own community, undermines any grievances you may have, and you will accomplish nothing. “
The Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, tweeted: “Once again, the results of the political flow in Northern Ireland result in our colleagues at PoliceServiceNI being targeted.
“No excuse for violence and condemnation across the political spectrum would be welcome.” – PA
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