Sectarian clashes in east Belfast

Published Monday, 20 June 2011
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A number of people have reportedly been taken to hospital after masked men got involved in sectarian clashes in east Belfast.

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Petrol bombs, bricks, bottles and other missiles were thrown close to the Short Stand interface on Monday night, after groups of men described as wearing balaclavas and camouflage gathered in the lower Newtownards Road area.

UTV understands a number of homes on both sides have been attacked, and that a PSNI landrover was set on fire.

There are unconfirmed reports that up to five shots have been fired from the direction of St Matthew's Church, and that one man was being treated at a nearby ambulance station for bullet wounds to his ankle in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Sinn Féin councillor for the area Niall Ó'Donnghaile, who was the scene, says the violence was deliberately organised by loyalists.

"We've had upwards of 60 to 100 masked men in army fatigues and balaclavas coming down the Castlereagh Road and attacking homes in the Short Strand," he told UTV.

"They subsequently moved round to the bottom of the lower Newtownards Road, all heavily armed with bottles, bricks, fireworks and petrol bombs."

But UUP MLA for the area Michael Copeland said earlier clashes were caused by republicans.

"My understanding is that there have been ongoing attacks at this interface in both directions but yesterday evening houses in the Newtownards Road were attacked from the Short Strand," he said.

"Stones were thrown from the roofs of houses and this evening was a repeat of it. It's a very shocking sign that things are not all well."

"With the onset of summer there must a joined up approach between the PSNI and community workers in the area to stem the violence on this interface."

Alliance East Belfast MP Naomi Long says violence needs to end "before a life is lost".

"It is not fair that people living in the area are subjected to this kind of turmoil, when the vast majority just want to live their lives in peace," Ms Long said.

"Those engaging in this rioting have no respect for the local community and nothing to offer but misery. There can never be any justification for this kind of violence."

Shortly before 10pm, police confirmed they were dealing with reports of disorder in the Bryson Street area of east Belfast, after large number of people gathered. They said a number of petrol bombs had been thrown but did not report any injuries.

They said they had received earlier reports of disorder in the Castlereagh area, but the situation was brought under control.

Police have urged members of the public to avoid the area.

This is the second night of trouble in the interface area of east Belfast. Police were also called in to deal with trouble involving groups of youths in the early hours of Monday.

© UTV News
Comments Comments
89 Comments
Brendan in Lisburn wrote (698 days ago):
@noname Yes I can totally accept that the UVF orchestrated this in reponse to previous nationalist attacks. Re Ardoyne where exactly does the parade pass thru nationalist areas? It passes the shops which residents have to walk to to be offended!Do you accept SF/IRA orchestrate the rioting there and bus in people who dont even live in the area? Like it or not Orange parades are rerouted because the threat of violence comes from protestors not the OO itself
Ulysses32 in Belfast wrote (698 days ago):
Brendan, while I have been sitting on the sideline reading some of the fantastical comments by loyalist knuckledraggers on this site I have found it laughable that the blame for all the riotting was laid at the foot of a Nationalist/Republican community. A criminal and sectarian gang deliberately set out to cause the problems that do exist. Shot fired from the Nationalist community? Unforgiveable. A paramilitary organisation setting out to terrorise a community? Reprehensible. As for the bussing in of rioters, you only have to listen to the news and hear the news where people from the loyalist area state that carloads of "spectators" were bussed into their area. You need to think where the blame lies for the current problem, not cherrypick incidents to bolster a mire of whataboutery to justify the UVF. If you have a problem with your duely represented politicians, the ones you have elected. You don't bring terrorism onto the street.
R. McNicholl in Co. Derry wrote (698 days ago):
Just been readin all the comments there and i noticed that almost every other person commented on stus' outstanding solution to our little problem. it took me a while to actually get to it and i have to say 'Jesus H. Christ' what are you smokin man? that is single handedly the dumbest thing i have heard this year. by far
SPB in londonderry wrote (698 days ago):
catch a grip yes blame the people of the newtowards rd coz its never the ones from the short strand...... makes me sick. just because it the marching season it the loyalists. nothing said about the nationalists hiding on the chapel grounds with weapons,!!!!!!!!!!! GOD SAVE OUT QUEEN. NO SURRENDER..
NoName in West Belfast wrote (698 days ago):
@ Brendan Yes the nationalists fired ONE more shot that the loyalists. Will we forget that the loyalist mob attacked the Strand homes the night before? They did it on a bigger scale last night and the nationalists hit back, the PSNI also stated the UVF was responsible for organising and causing this violence. These men are so hate filled they cant stand the fact that power has been took from them and dont want to share equality and live in peace in the North. Really wana talk about Ardyone?? If the orange men didnt insist on marching through Nationlists areas there would be no violence - simple. I'd love it if the shoe was on the other foot and the Republicans wanted to march through the Shankill on Easter Sunday, what do you think would happen there?
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