North ablaze as riots mar Twelfth festivities

Politicians on all sides condemn ongoing violence

NORTHERN Ireland braced for a sixth night of rioting and disturbance last night as bonfires were lit to mark July 12th.

While many unionists peacefully celebrated victory in the 1690 Battle of the Boyne, police warned of likely antiunionist and anti-nationalist unrest.

Disturbances in recent days include riots, petrol bombs, a pipe bomb and several arson attacks.

In a bid to quell tensions, Sinn Féin last night condemned an attempted arson at an Orange Hall in Crumlin, Co. Antrim, in which republicans spray-painted the outside of the building with ‘KAH’ graffiti [Kill All Huns] and tried to burn down the door.

Earlier, there had been major disruption in parts of the North as cars were hijacked and set on fire and Belfast City Airport was placed under lockdown while the PSNI dealt with a suspicious device.

The latest disturbances came a day after dissident republicans were blamed for firing at police with an automatic weapon in the Bogside area of Derry.

A fire was also started at the bottom of the flyover in the Bogside. Police blamed dissident republican terrorists for firing a volley of automatic gunfire on officers. Six shots were fired at officers close to the city’s famous walls on Tuesday night.

Around 16 petrol bombs and five paint bombs were also thrown close to the walls and at police patrols.

Unionist, SDLP and Alliance party spokespersons issued a rare joint statement condemning the attacks.

Meanwhile, Tourism Minister, Brendan Griffin, became the first Irish minister to attend Belfast’s July 12 parade.

Mr Griffin also met representatives from the Orange Order.