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Large police presence for loyalist parade in Belfast | Large police presence for loyalist parade in Belfast |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Several hundred loyalist flag protesters have gathered at Belfast' City Hall ahead of a parade due to take place to the Shankill area. | |
The parade should have left the city centre by 12:30 BST, as stipulated by the Parades Commission. | |
But marchers said the parade - arranged by a group called the Loyal Peaceful Protesters - had organised to leave at 14:00 BST. | |
Police have warned marchers they face arrest if the area is not cleared. | |
There is a heavy police presence in the city centre. | |
The group applied to the Parades Commission to march from Belfast City Hall to Woodvale from 14:00 BST. | |
But the commission ruled that the march should leave the city hall no later than 12:30 BST and pass out of the city centre by 13:00 BST. | |
Police have warned motorists to expect delays due to traffic diversions in parts of the city centre from 12:00 BST to 16:00 BST. | Police have warned motorists to expect delays due to traffic diversions in parts of the city centre from 12:00 BST to 16:00 BST. |
They are in place at the front of Belfast City Hall, Wellington Place, Chichester Street and from Castle Junction to North Street. | |
There will also be traffic diversions in the Shankill area between 15:00 BST and 17:00 BST. | There will also be traffic diversions in the Shankill area between 15:00 BST and 17:00 BST. |
The streets affected will be North Street, Millfield, Peters Hill, Shankill Road and Woodvale. | The streets affected will be North Street, Millfield, Peters Hill, Shankill Road and Woodvale. |
Many people within loyalist communities were angered by the decision of Belfast City Council on 3 December 2012 to restrict the number of days on which the union flag is flown at the city hall. | |
They took to the streets to protest and some protests resulted in violence with many police officers injured. | |
Major flags protests took place on Saturdays from December 2012 and into 2013. |