BAD OLD DAYS ARE BACK
FIREBOMBS HURLED, BUS SET ALIGHT AND 8 POLICE HURT AS CITY IS HIT BY WORST DISORDER IN YEARS
NORTHERN IRELAND saw its ‘ worst night of violence’ for years as police officers were attacked, petrol bombs hurled and a bus torched in Belfast.
Paramilitaries were accused of goading children as young as 12 into rioting while appeals for calm were made after the disorder in mainly loyalist areas.
Stormont leaders said it was a ‘miracle’ no one was killed on Wednesday, with more than 50 police officers injured so far during several days of disorder.
Trouble erupted after several hundred people gathered each side of a barrier separating loyalist and nationalist areas. A double-decker bus was firebombed, leaving the driver ‘ badly shaken’ but unhurt. Fireworks were thrown at police and a peace gate set on fire.
Eight officers were injured and two men aged 28 and 18 arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour. Justice minister Naomi Long said: ‘It is a mercy that no one has lost their life. I would appeal again for everyone with influence in our community to use it to end this.’
Meanwhile clashes spread to nationalist areas last night, with police in west Belfast blasting gangs of youths with water cannon after coming under attack from missiles. ‘Utterly depressing to see more violence,’ Ms Long tweeted.
Boris Johnson and Irish premier Micheal Martin made a joint call for calm. The violence followed tensions over the post-Brexit trade arrangements and the police’s handling of a republican funeral held in lockdown.