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| British army will not return to Northern Ireland streets, says Theresa Villiers | British army will not return to Northern Ireland streets, says Theresa Villiers |
| (4 months later) | |
| The Northern Ireland secretary, Theresa Villiers, says the British army will not be returning to the Northern Ireland's streets. | The Northern Ireland secretary, Theresa Villiers, says the British army will not be returning to the Northern Ireland's streets. |
| The secretary of state ruled out deploying any soldiers to back up the Police Service of Northern Ireland to counter the continued threat from dissident republicans as well as the recent upsurge in loyalist street disorder linked to the union flag protests. | The secretary of state ruled out deploying any soldiers to back up the Police Service of Northern Ireland to counter the continued threat from dissident republicans as well as the recent upsurge in loyalist street disorder linked to the union flag protests. |
| Asked if troops might be needed to support the PSNI, Villiers told the BBC Politics Show on Sunday that there was "no prospect" of a military presence on the streets. | Asked if troops might be needed to support the PSNI, Villiers told the BBC Politics Show on Sunday that there was "no prospect" of a military presence on the streets. |
| However, the army is deployed for certain specialist roles such as bomb disposal operations, such as when dealing with New IRA and Continuity IRA bombs and rockets. Last week a major security operation thwarted a New IRA mortar attack on a police station in Derry. | However, the army is deployed for certain specialist roles such as bomb disposal operations, such as when dealing with New IRA and Continuity IRA bombs and rockets. Last week a major security operation thwarted a New IRA mortar attack on a police station in Derry. |
| The cabinet minister also condemned the latest bout of loyalist street violence when more than 100 rioters attacked police on Friday evening in the Glengormley area of north Belfast. | The cabinet minister also condemned the latest bout of loyalist street violence when more than 100 rioters attacked police on Friday evening in the Glengormley area of north Belfast. |
| "It is totally unacceptable that policemen were injured as they went about their duty protecting the whole community. These protests must come off the streets and allow Northern Ireland's political leaders to work together towards a resolution," Villiers said in an earlier statement responding to Friday's trouble. | "It is totally unacceptable that policemen were injured as they went about their duty protecting the whole community. These protests must come off the streets and allow Northern Ireland's political leaders to work together towards a resolution," Villiers said in an earlier statement responding to Friday's trouble. |
| During the violence rioters attacked a constituency office belonging to Northern Ireland's justice minister and Alliance party leader, David Ford. Extreme loyalists have targeted the Alliance party because its councillors hold the balance of power on Belfast city council and forced through a compromise motion last December which restricted flying the union flag on council buildings for 18 designated days. | During the violence rioters attacked a constituency office belonging to Northern Ireland's justice minister and Alliance party leader, David Ford. Extreme loyalists have targeted the Alliance party because its councillors hold the balance of power on Belfast city council and forced through a compromise motion last December which restricted flying the union flag on council buildings for 18 designated days. |
| Meanwhile the PSNI says it is investigating reports of an explosion on the M5 motorway at the northern edge of Belfast over the weekend. The motorway was closed while detectives carried out forensic searches after the blast was reported around 9.15pm on Saturday. | Meanwhile the PSNI says it is investigating reports of an explosion on the M5 motorway at the northern edge of Belfast over the weekend. The motorway was closed while detectives carried out forensic searches after the blast was reported around 9.15pm on Saturday. |
| The explosion took place not far from where a police patrol was passing. The PSNI are investigating if their officers were the target of the explosion not far from Belfast Lough. | The explosion took place not far from where a police patrol was passing. The PSNI are investigating if their officers were the target of the explosion not far from Belfast Lough. |
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