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26 police officers injured during Belfast parade protests | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Police have said 26 officers were injured during violence in Belfast City Centre on Friday night linked to a republican parade. | |
Loyalist protesters prevented the parade from passing along Royal Avenue. | |
Police said they came under heavy and sustained attack by crowds "intent on creating disorder". | Police said they came under heavy and sustained attack by crowds "intent on creating disorder". |
Five of the injured officers needed hospital treatment. Police fired 20 plastic baton rounds and used water cannon as well as dogs. | |
Police said they had reports that two members of the public had been injured. | Police said they had reports that two members of the public had been injured. |
All roads have now reopened to traffic, except the lower end of the Shankill Road, which remains closed. | All roads have now reopened to traffic, except the lower end of the Shankill Road, which remains closed. |
Loyalist protesters attacked the police with bricks and bottles as they waited for the republican parade to arrive. | Loyalist protesters attacked the police with bricks and bottles as they waited for the republican parade to arrive. |
The protesters blocked Royal Avenue to prevent the republican parade getting through. | The protesters blocked Royal Avenue to prevent the republican parade getting through. |
A number of parked vehicles were also been set on fire in the North Street area. | A number of parked vehicles were also been set on fire in the North Street area. |
Some loyalists accused the police of being heavy-handed. | Some loyalists accused the police of being heavy-handed. |
However, PSNI Assistant Chief Constable George Hamilton said: "Whilst facilitating the Parades Commission determination for tonight's parade and associated protests, police have come under heavy and sustained attack by crowds intent on creating disorder. | However, PSNI Assistant Chief Constable George Hamilton said: "Whilst facilitating the Parades Commission determination for tonight's parade and associated protests, police have come under heavy and sustained attack by crowds intent on creating disorder. |
"As Northern Ireland moves ahead, the effect of tonight's violence has the potential to damage the local economy and the reputation of Belfast as a tourist destination." | "As Northern Ireland moves ahead, the effect of tonight's violence has the potential to damage the local economy and the reputation of Belfast as a tourist destination." |
The parade and the protesters later confronted each other about 100 metres apart in north Belfast. | The parade and the protesters later confronted each other about 100 metres apart in north Belfast. |
What police have described as serious disorder took place in the Carrickhill, Peter's Hill and Millfield areas close to the city centre. | What police have described as serious disorder took place in the Carrickhill, Peter's Hill and Millfield areas close to the city centre. |
The parade then passed into west Belfast after protesters were pushed back towards the Shankill area. | The parade then passed into west Belfast after protesters were pushed back towards the Shankill area. |
Police put in place a major operation ahead of the parade, involving hundreds of officers and dozens of vehicles. | Police put in place a major operation ahead of the parade, involving hundreds of officers and dozens of vehicles. |
The march, which started in north Belfast, marked the introduction of internment in 1971. | The march, which started in north Belfast, marked the introduction of internment in 1971. |
The DUP's Nelson McCausland said the republican parade had been designed to provoke a loyalist reaction. | The DUP's Nelson McCausland said the republican parade had been designed to provoke a loyalist reaction. |
"We warned the secretary of state, the PSNI and the Parades Commission that this would happen but they ignored our warnings," he said. | "We warned the secretary of state, the PSNI and the Parades Commission that this would happen but they ignored our warnings," he said. |
"They misjudged the situation and the image of Belfast has suffered badly. That is particularly frustrating because what happened was entirely avoidable." | "They misjudged the situation and the image of Belfast has suffered badly. That is particularly frustrating because what happened was entirely avoidable." |
The Ulster Unionist Party said its East Belfast assembly member Michael Copeland had made a complete to police that he had been assaulted by an officer. | The Ulster Unionist Party said its East Belfast assembly member Michael Copeland had made a complete to police that he had been assaulted by an officer. |
The Parades Commission had given permission for six loyalist protests against the parade. | The Parades Commission had given permission for six loyalist protests against the parade. |
Numbers were restricted at four of them. | Numbers were restricted at four of them. |