'The worst riots in years': Youths hurl petrol bombs at police who hit back with water cannon on SEVENTH night of violence in Northern Ireland - after 55 officers were injured in week-long clashes with children as young as 13 'egged on by parents'

  • Violence flared up in Belfast again on Thursday evening as youths hurled petrol bombs at police officers
  • Riot police on the republican side of the divided city were pelted with projectiles
  • Stones and fireworks were thrown at police by gangs of youths gathered on the nationalist Springfield Road 
  • It comes after Unionist thugs hijacked and firebombed a bus during the riots last night  
  • Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis is flying in to speak to Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill  
  • The PSNI said on Thursday 55 of its officers had been injured across several nights of disorder in the countryViolence erupted on the streets of Belfast for the seventh consecutive night as police deployed a water cannon to blast the rioters.

    The unrest raging in Northern Ireland has been described as the 'worst in years' and tonight showed no sign of calming as PSNI officers were pelted with petrol bombs, fireworks and rocks.

    Fifty-five officers have so-far been injured in a week of clashes between nationalists and pro-British loyalists at the so-called 'peace wall' on Springfield Road.  

    Despite cross-party pleas from politicians to stay away, around 100 rioters descended on the area tonight and were met with heavily-clad officers with shields and dogs.

    They were warned repeatedly they would be targeted with the water cannon if they did not disperse, which most did after the police vehicle started spraying. 

    Justice Minister Naomi Long tweeted: 'More attacks on police, this time from nationalist youths. Utterly reckless and depressing to see more violence at interface areas tonight.

    'My heart goes out to those living in the area who are living with this fear and disturbance. This needs to stop now before lives are lost.' 

    British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and even Joe Biden's White House joined calls appealing to the protesters to end the violence, which has involved children as young as 13, purportedly encouraged by their parents.

    Violence flared up in Belfast again tonight as youths hurled petrol bombs at police officers in what has been described as the worst riots 'in years

    Violence flared up in Belfast again tonight as youths hurled petrol bombs at police officers in what has been described as the worst riots 'in years

    The PSNI use a water cannon on the Springfield road, during further unrest in Belfast tonight

    The PSNI use a water cannon on the Springfield road, during further unrest in Belfast tonight

    Fireworks explode on police vehicles after being fired at police officers during clashes with nationalist youths in the Springfield Road

    Fireworks explode on police vehicles after being fired at police officers during clashes with nationalist youths in the Springfield Road

    They were warned repeatedly they would be targeted with the water cannon if they did not disperse, which most did after the police vehicle started spraying

    They were warned repeatedly they would be targeted with the water cannon if they did not disperse, which most did after the police vehicle started spraying

    A row of riot police officers with shields were seen in Belfast amid clashes with nationalist youths

    A row of riot police officers with shields were seen in Belfast amid clashes with nationalist youths

    A fire burns in front of police vehicles in Belfast. Protests have been continuing in the city between officers and youths

    A fire burns in front of police vehicles in Belfast. Protests have been continuing in the city between officers and youths 

    Fireworks were seen exploding in front of police vehicles in Belfast on Thursday

    Fireworks were seen exploding in front of police vehicles in Belfast on Thursday

    A rioter reacts as the police use a water cannon in Belfast amid clashes between officers and youths

    A rioter reacts as the police use a water cannon in Belfast amid clashes between officers and youths

    Police deployed a water canon tonight in West Belfast to disperse a group of nationalist youths. Officers are seen with riot gear

    Police deployed a water canon tonight in West Belfast to disperse a group of nationalist youths. Officers are seen with riot gear

    One rioter is seen lobbing an object into the air during the clashes. The demonstrations continued into the evening

    One rioter is seen lobbing an object into the air during the clashes. The demonstrations continued into the evening

    The unrest raging in Northern Ireland has been described as the 'worst in years' and tonight showed no sign of calming as PSNI officers were pelted with petrol bombs, fireworks and rocks

    The unrest raging in Northern Ireland has been described as the 'worst in years' and tonight showed no sign of calming as PSNI officers were pelted with petrol bombs, fireworks and rocks

    Fireworks explode at police vehicles in Belfast. Clashes continued into the evening

    Fireworks explode at police vehicles in Belfast. Clashes continued into the evening

    People watch a traffic sign burn as Nationalists attack police on Springfield Road near the Peace Wall

    People watch a traffic sign burn as Nationalists attack police on Springfield Road near the Peace Wall

    Despite cross-party pleas from politicians to stay away, around 100 rioters descended on the area tonight and were met with heavily-clad officers with shields and dogs

    Despite cross-party pleas from politicians to stay away, around 100 rioters descended on the area tonight and were met with heavily-clad officers with shields and dogsTensions over Northern Ireland's Brexit arrangement and an illegal gathering at the funeral of an IRA member had been mounting in the province before finally boiling over last week. 

    A 'peace wall' separating the nationalist area of Springfield Road from the neighbouring Shankill Road area has been the epicentre of the clashes. 

    Mr Johnson and Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin spoke over the phone today and, in a statement, the Irish Government said the two leaders stressed that violence was unacceptable.

    'The way forward is through dialogue and working the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement,' the statement said.'

    President Biden, who is of Irish heritage, also stressed the need to protect the integrity of the Good Friday Agreement, which the United States helped to broker in 1998.

    White House press secretary Jen Psaki said: 'We remain steadfast supporters of a secure and prosperous Northern Ireland in which all communities have a voice and enjoy the gains of the hard-won peace.

    'We welcome the provisions in both the EU-UK trade cooperation agreement and the Northern Ireland Protocol, which helped protect the gains of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.' 

    Crisis talks between UK Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis and Stormont's leaders were also held in Northern Ireland. 

    Mr Lewis pledged to do 'all I can to continue to facilitate further constructive discussions on the way forward over the coming days'. 

    He said he had full confidence in PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne, who the DUP has urged to resign over a decision by prosecutors not to pursue Sinn Fein politicians over alleged coronavirus breaches at Bobby Storey's funeral last year.

    Earlier in the day, ministers in the Stormont Executive condemned the violence and MLAs unanimously passed a motion calling for an end to the disorder.

    In a joint statement, the five-party Executive said: 'We are gravely concerned by the scenes we have all witnessed on our streets over the last week, including those at the Lanark Way interface last night.

    'Attacks on police officers, public services and communities are deplorable and they must stop.

    'Destruction, violence and the threat of violence are completely unacceptable and unjustifiable, no matter what concerns may exist in communities.

    'Those who would seek to use and abuse our children and young people to carry out these attacks have no place in our society.

    'While our political positions are very different on many issues, we are all united in our support for law and order and we collectively state our support for policing and for the police officers who have been putting themselves in harm's way to protect others.

    'We, and our departments, will continue to work together to maximise the support we can give to communities and the PSNI to prevent further violence and unrest.' The Stormont Assembly was recalled from Easter recess for an emergency sitting on Thursday to debate the violence, which has mostly flared in loyalist areas.'

    PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Jonathan Roberts said the spate of rioting is some of the worst he's seen in years. 

    He told a press briefing: 'I can't confirm the involvement of paramilitaries but the orchestration of [Wednesday] night's disorder and the previous nights is the subject of investigation.

    'The scale of the disorder last night was at a scale that we have not seen in recent years in Belfast or further afield.

    'The fact that it was sectarian violence involving large groups on both sides is not something we have seen in recent years. We believe there was a level of pre-planning.'

    He revealed that 55 of his officers had so far been injured.

    Mr Roberts said multiple petrol bombs and missiles, including fireworks and heavy masonry, have been thrown and it is 'clear there was a degree of organisation' of the violence.

    The top officer also lashed out at parents for encouraging their children to engage in the violence. 

    'We have seen scenes last night of a new generation of young people who have been exposed to scenes that I'm sure we all thought were in generations gone by, and I would encourage anybody in a position of leadership - political representatives, community representatives, parents - take an interest in what young people are doing and to have a united message to prevent further scenes like we witnessed last night.'

    DUP First Minister Arlene Foster said the unrest was 'totally unacceptable and had taken the region, which has a history of conflict, backwards.

    Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill, of Sinn Fein, said illegal loyalist paramilitaries and criminal elements were influencing young people and orchestrating the violence: 'They are holding back their own people and they are holding back their own community.' 

    The violence over the past week erupted after prosecutors said no action would be taken against 24 Sinn Fein politicians - Ms O'Neill - for a huge republican funeral during the pandemic.

    They went to the service to Bobby Storey - an IRA terrorist from Belfast who died after a failed lung transplant - on June 30 along with about 1,500 people despite Covid rules.

    Loyalists are also angry at post-Brexit trading arrangements that have created economic barriers between the region and the rest of the UK. They see the Northern Ireland Protocol as undermining their place in the Union. 

  • Why has violence flared again on the streets of Northern Ireland? 

    The street disorder that has flared in various parts of Northern Ireland for more than a week can be attributed to a multitude of factors.

    At its heart is loyalist anger at post-Brexit trading arrangements that have created economic barriers between the region and the rest of the UK.

    For loyalism, Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol has undermined their place in the Union.

    But it took an event unrelated to the Irish Sea border furore to set a match to resentment that has been simmering since the consequences of exiting the EU became a reality at the start of January.

    The announcement by prosecutors last week that no action would be taken against 24 Sinn Fein politicians, including deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill, for attending a huge republican funeral during the pandemic sparked outrage among some loyalists.

    In several loyalist working class areas, many still in the grip of the malign influence of paramilitary gangs, sporadic rioting has since flared.

    Belfast, Londonderry, Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus and Ballymena have all witnessed scenes of violence that many hoped had been consigned to the history books.

    There have also been bouts of disorder within republican areas in recent days.

    In the most stark, youths on both sides of a west Belfast peace line pelted petrol bombs and other missiles at each other through Wednesday night.

    For loyalists, the funeral of former IRA leader Bobby Storey last June hardened a long-standing perception held by many within their community that the institutions of the state afford preferential treatment to republicans.

    For apparent confirmation, they pointed to police engagement with the Sinn Fein funeral organisers prior to an event that saw around 2,000 people take to the streets of west Belfast when tight limits on public gatherings were in place.

    This interaction with the planners was one reason why senior prosecutors concluded any prosecution of Ms O'Neill and her colleagues was doomed to fail - the other being the 'incoherent' nature of Stormont's Covid-19 regulations at the time.

    Criticism of the PSNI approach was not confined to hard-line elements within loyalism and all the main unionist parties subsequently called for chief constable Simon Byrne to resign, claiming he has lost the confidence of their community.

    DUP First Minister Arlene Foster has said she will no longer engage with Mr Byrne.

    Her lack of communication with the region's police chief during a time of escalating street violence, and coming only weeks after she met with representatives of loyalist paramilitaries to discuss the Brexit fall out, has drawn sharp criticism from political rivals.

    Non-unionist parties have accused Mrs Foster and other unionist political leaders of stoking up tensions, not only in relation to the Storey funeral but also in respect of the Irish Sea border.

    The DUP leader and other prominent voices within unionism and loyalism insist they are only reflecting genuinely held concerns they say must be addressed - specifically by way of Mr Byrne's resignation and the binning of the Protocol.

    Amid the current unionist clamour for Mr Byrne's head, and claims of 'two tier' policing, it is worth noting that two months ago the PSNI chief constable was facing similar claims of discriminatory behaviour from within nationalism.

    Those were prompted by a controversial police operation in Belfast that saw a man badly injured in a loyalist gun massacre during the Troubles arrested at the scene of a commemoration event after officers intervened to probe suspected Covid regulation breaches.

    Following that incident at the site of the 1992 Ormeau Road betting shop murders, Ms O'Neill claimed there was a 'crisis in confidence' in the PSNI among nationalists, albeit she stopped short of calling for Mr Byrne to quit.

    The Protocol and funeral controversy have not created the loyalist perception that the system is weighed against them, but have built upon a narrative articulated by an increasing number within loyalism that the peace process - particularly the Good Friday accord of 1998 - has handed them a raw deal.

    They cite underinvestment and deprivation in loyalist working class areas as further proof that they have missed out on the gains of peace.

    Nationalists and republicans reject this premise, insisting their communities have experienced just has many problems with poverty and unemployment since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.

    Paramilitary elements are undoubtedly involved in much of the disorder witnessed across the region in recent days - either directly or by orchestrating young people to riot on their behalf.

    However, in Newtownabbey and Carrickfergus an added factor is at play.

    In those areas, the PSNI believes paramilitary involvement is less motivated by Brexit or the Storey funeral and more to do with a rogue faction - the South East Antrim UDA - reacting to recent police operations targeting its criminal empire. Fifty-five officers have so-far been injured in a week of clashes between nationalists and pro-British loyalists at the so-called 'peace wall' on Springfield Road

    Fifty-five officers have so-far been injured in a week of clashes between nationalists and pro-British loyalists at the so-called 'peace wall' on Springfield Road

    Police officers are attacked by nationalist youths in the Springfield Road area of Belfast on April 8, 2021 as disorder continued in the Northern Ireland capital following days of mainly loyalist violence

    Police officers are attacked by nationalist youths in the Springfield Road area of Belfast on April 8, 2021 as disorder continued in the Northern Ireland capital following days of mainly loyalist violence

    A PSNI officer with a dog straining at the leash on the Springfield road tonight

    A PSNI officer with a dog straining at the leash on the Springfield road tonight

    PSNI officers with riot shields line the Springfield road, during further unrest in Belfast on Thursday evening. The cause of the unrest has been attributed to frustration over a decision not to prosecute members of Sinn Fein over alleged coronavirus regulation breaches at the funeral of republican Bobby Storey

    PSNI officers with riot shields line the Springfield road, during further unrest in Belfast on Thursday evening. The cause of the unrest has been attributed to frustration over a decision not to prosecute members of Sinn Fein over alleged coronavirus regulation breaches at the funeral of republican Bobby Storey

    A rioter throws a burning object at the police on the Springfield Road as protests continue in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on April 8

    A rioter throws a burning object at the police on the Springfield Road as protests continue in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on April 8 

    A fire burns in front of the police on the Springfield Road as protests continue in Belfast, Northern Ireland on April 8

    A fire burns in front of the police on the Springfield Road as protests continue in Belfast, Northern Ireland on April 8 

    A rioter reacts towards the police on the Springfield Road as protests continue in Belfast, Northern Ireland on Thursday evening

    A rioter reacts towards the police on the Springfield Road as protests continue in Belfast, Northern Ireland on Thursday evening 

    A fire burns in front of the police on the Springfield Road as protests continue in Belfast this evening

    A fire burns in front of the police on the Springfield Road as protests continue in Belfast this evening

    Nationalists attack Police on Springfield Road just up from Peace Wall interface gates which divide the nationalist and loyalist communities on April 8, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Trouble has flared for a second night running in the Springfield Road area of Belfast. US President Joe Biden joined UK prime minister Boris Johnson and the Irish prime minister Micheal Martin in a call for calm

    Nationalists attack Police on Springfield Road just up from Peace Wall interface gates which divide the nationalist and loyalist communities on April 8, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Trouble has flared for a second night running in the Springfield Road area of Belfast. US President Joe Biden joined UK prime minister Boris Johnson and the Irish prime minister Micheal Martin in a call for calmNorthern Ireland's Education Minister Peter Weir has confirmed the reopening of some youth services which operate in areas of heightened community tensions.

    Mr Weir said the move is hoped to divert young people from becoming involved in 'risk taking and dangerous behaviours'.

    'Youth services play a vital role in supporting young people throughout Northern Ireland,' he said.

    'As a society we should all be appalled at witnessing young people and even children being involved in the recent violence on our streets.

    'At this time it is even more important that youth services are able to meet the needs of young people in these areas.'

    Mr Weir added: 'These measures are intended to safeguard and ensure the welfare of our young people and to divert them from becoming involved in risk taking and dangerous behaviours.'

    Yesterday the gates of the peace wall on Lanark Way - which separates Shankill Road from Springfield Road - were forced open, leading to clashes between young members of the two communities.

    The 'peace walls' are a hangover from the Troubles and separate loyalist and nationalist communities.

    Civilians have been caught up in the protests and horrifying footage of a bus being firebombed was witnessed yesterday. 

    A spontaneous act of solidarity took place place at Belfast City Hall for the driver of the bus.

    Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) assistant general secretary Owen Reidy said it was a demonstration on behalf of the entire trade union movement to support the driver, who has been left shaken by the incident.

    He said: 'Theirs is an act of generosity towards their fellow bus driver who was shockingly attacked last evening and towards the brave police officers and journalists who were also assaulted while doing their job and serving the community.

    'Workers across Northern Ireland will not accept being the subject of attacks when going about their duties. The Translink workers are standing up and proclaiming this loudly.

    'This has to stop and it has to stop now. All public representatives from across the community and every person of goodwill and influence in interface areas have to make clear that all such protests end before we have another night of violence.

    'Young people are being treated as cannon fodder. Someone is going to get killed.

    'The best public service any decent person of influence can do right now is to prevent the spiral deepening. Politicians need to come together, work together and make politics work in the interest of the entire community.'

    Belfast Telegraph photographer Kevin Scott said he was assaulted by two of the rioters.

    The newspaper's visuals editor tweeted: 'So much for peaceful - I have just been jumped from behind by two males, masked on Cupar Way.

    'One pulled me to the ground and smashed cameras. As I fought this one off I was told to f**k off back to your own area you fenian c**t by the other. Police informed.'

    He added 'what happened to me tonight was disgusting, but not on the same level as this' - referring to the bus driver.   PSNI officers with riot shields on the Springfield road, during further unrest in Belfast. Police in Belfast faced a barrage of petrol bombs and rocks on Thursday, an AFP journalist said, as violence once again flared in Northern Ireland despite pleas for calm

    PSNI officers with riot shields on the Springfield road, during further unrest in Belfast. Police in Belfast faced a barrage of petrol bombs and rocks on Thursday, an AFP journalist said, as violence once again flared in Northern Ireland despite pleas for calm

    Youths pick up stones to throw at PSNI officers on the Springfield road, during further unrest in Belfast. The cause of the unrest has been attributed to frustration over a decision not to prosecute members of Sinn Fein over alleged coronavirus regulation breaches at the funeral of republican Bobby Storey

    Youths pick up stones to throw at PSNI officers on the Springfield road, during further unrest in Belfast. The cause of the unrest has been attributed to frustration over a decision not to prosecute members of Sinn Fein over alleged coronavirus regulation breaches at the funeral of republican Bobby StoreyPSNI officers with riot shields on the Springfield road, during further unrest in Belfast. Police in Belfast faced a barrage of petrol bombs and rocks on Thursday, an AFP journalist said, as violence once again flared in Northern Ireland despite pleas for calm

    PSNI officers with riot shields on the Springfield road, during further unrest in Belfast. Police in Belfast faced a barrage of petrol bombs and rocks on Thursday, an AFP journalist said, as violence once again flared in Northern Ireland despite pleas for calm

    Youths pick up stones to throw at PSNI officers on the Springfield road, during further unrest in Belfast. The cause of the unrest has been attributed to frustration over a decision not to prosecute members of Sinn Fein over alleged coronavirus regulation breaches at the funeral of republican Bobby Storey

    Youths pick up stones to throw at PSNI officers on the Springfield road, during further unrest in Belfast. The cause of the unrest has been attributed to frustration over a decision not to prosecute members of Sinn Fein over alleged coronavirus regulation breaches at the funeral of republican Bobby Storey

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