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-20922038
The article has changed 25 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 23 | Version 24 |
|---|---|
| Belfast flags trouble: Matt Baggott in warning to rioters | Belfast flags trouble: Matt Baggott in warning to rioters |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Northern Ireland's chief constable Matt Baggott has warned that police will "deal firmly" with outbreaks of violence linked to union flag protests. | Northern Ireland's chief constable Matt Baggott has warned that police will "deal firmly" with outbreaks of violence linked to union flag protests. |
| On Saturday, police came under attack in east Belfast for the third night running. | On Saturday, police came under attack in east Belfast for the third night running. |
| Since protests began over the decision to fly the union flag at Belfast City Hall only on designated days, 52 police officers have been injured. | Since protests began over the decision to fly the union flag at Belfast City Hall only on designated days, 52 police officers have been injured. |
| Police said they fired plastic bullets three times during Saturday's violence. | Police said they fired plastic bullets three times during Saturday's violence. |
| Water cannon was also used as officers came under attack from over 100 people, throwing petrol bombs, stones and fireworks. One officer was injured. | Water cannon was also used as officers came under attack from over 100 people, throwing petrol bombs, stones and fireworks. One officer was injured. |
| Seven of eight people arrested in east Belfast have been charged with riotous behaviour. They appeared at a special sitting of Belfast Magistrates Court on Sunday. | |
| "I want to commend the tireless courage of my officers at this very difficult time," Chief Constable Matt Baggott said. | "I want to commend the tireless courage of my officers at this very difficult time," Chief Constable Matt Baggott said. |
| "You may be assured there will be sufficient resources in the event of more disorder for however long is necessary. | "You may be assured there will be sufficient resources in the event of more disorder for however long is necessary. |
| "The police service will continue to do everything possible to maintain law and order and we will deal firmly with outbreaks of violence." | "The police service will continue to do everything possible to maintain law and order and we will deal firmly with outbreaks of violence." |
| Church leaders, local politicians and community workers met for more than three hours on Sunday to discuss the recent violence | |
| However, Robin Newton, of the Democratic Unionist Party, said a lack of engagement from protest organisers was making it difficult to see an end to the unrest. | However, Robin Newton, of the Democratic Unionist Party, said a lack of engagement from protest organisers was making it difficult to see an end to the unrest. |
| "We have to find a way out of this, but how we do it, I don't know," he said. | "We have to find a way out of this, but how we do it, I don't know," he said. |
| Police Supt Paula Hillman said officers were being subjected to "sustained, serious, violence". | Police Supt Paula Hillman said officers were being subjected to "sustained, serious, violence". |
| "They are being attacked with petrol bombs, masonry, and bricks," she said. | "They are being attacked with petrol bombs, masonry, and bricks," she said. |
| "Lasers are also being used against police officers and those in the police helicopter. | "Lasers are also being used against police officers and those in the police helicopter. |
| "We're sending out a very clear message to people - we respect people's rights to peaceful protest but if you are going to engage in violence, we will robustly apprehend those either by arresting them at the time or as a result of subsequent follow-up investigations and bring those people before the courts." | "We're sending out a very clear message to people - we respect people's rights to peaceful protest but if you are going to engage in violence, we will robustly apprehend those either by arresting them at the time or as a result of subsequent follow-up investigations and bring those people before the courts." |
| On Saturday afternoon, a 38-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after shots were reportedly fired at police. | On Saturday afternoon, a 38-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after shots were reportedly fired at police. |
| During the day, a protest took place in the city centre over Belfast council's decision to only fly the union flag on designated days. | During the day, a protest took place in the city centre over Belfast council's decision to only fly the union flag on designated days. |
| Up to 1,000 loyalists demonstrated outside Belfast City Hall. | Up to 1,000 loyalists demonstrated outside Belfast City Hall. |
| Police said they later dealt with public disorder in a number of locations including Templemore Avenue and the Albertbridge Road. | Police said they later dealt with public disorder in a number of locations including Templemore Avenue and the Albertbridge Road. |
| Bricks, bottles, fireworks and smoke canisters were thrown by the rioters on the Lower Newtownards Road. | Bricks, bottles, fireworks and smoke canisters were thrown by the rioters on the Lower Newtownards Road. |
| One officer was injured, but did not require hospital treatment. | |
| The chairman of the Police Federation, Terry Spence, said the police were being severely stretched by the disorder and by ongoing dissident republican activity. | The chairman of the Police Federation, Terry Spence, said the police were being severely stretched by the disorder and by ongoing dissident republican activity. |
| "At the time of the inception of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, we had 12,500 full-time officers and we were backed up, at that stage, by 13,000 troops," Mr Spence said. | "At the time of the inception of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, we had 12,500 full-time officers and we were backed up, at that stage, by 13,000 troops," Mr Spence said. |
| "Now we have 7,000 full-time officers and there is no military support or back-up and yet the threat level is worse and much more severe than it was 10 years ago. | "Now we have 7,000 full-time officers and there is no military support or back-up and yet the threat level is worse and much more severe than it was 10 years ago. |
| "That has placed enormous strain and pressure on the officers of the PSNI." | "That has placed enormous strain and pressure on the officers of the PSNI." |
| Some loyalists claimed Saturday's trouble was sparked when they were attacked by republicans from the Short Strand area. | Some loyalists claimed Saturday's trouble was sparked when they were attacked by republicans from the Short Strand area. |
| Third night | Third night |
| It was the third consecutive night that police have been attacked in Belfast. | It was the third consecutive night that police have been attacked in Belfast. |
| Nineteen officers have been injured since Thursday and 27 people arrested. | Nineteen officers have been injured since Thursday and 27 people arrested. |
| Thirteen people appeared at a special sitting of Belfast Magistrates Court on Saturday night charged in connection with the recent rioting in east Belfast. | Thirteen people appeared at a special sitting of Belfast Magistrates Court on Saturday night charged in connection with the recent rioting in east Belfast. |
| Eleven men and one woman were remanded in custody. One woman was released on bail to attend a hospital appointment. | Eleven men and one woman were remanded in custody. One woman was released on bail to attend a hospital appointment. |
| The special two-hour sitting was before Judge George Connor. | The special two-hour sitting was before Judge George Connor. |
| A campaign of street demonstrations has been ongoing since Belfast City Council took a vote on 3 December which limited the number of days the union flag is flown at Belfast City Hall. | A campaign of street demonstrations has been ongoing since Belfast City Council took a vote on 3 December which limited the number of days the union flag is flown at Belfast City Hall. |
| Since then 70 people have been arrested, 45 of whom have been charged with public order offences. | Since then 70 people have been arrested, 45 of whom have been charged with public order offences. |