N. Ireland violence continues despite peace talks
Worldwide, Daily news | ankakh | January 7, 2013 16:46
Violence flared for the fourth night running in Northern Ireland on Sunday, hours after politicians and Church leaders held talks in a bid to quell a row over the flying of the British flag.
After three nights of rioting and attacks on police, Northern Ireland’s chief police officer Matt Baggott said 52 officers had been injured, but he warned his force would deal firmly with the violence for as long as it was necessary.
“You may be assured there will be sufficient resources in the event of more disorder for however long is necessary,” said Baggott, the PSNI chief constable.
But as darkness fell on Sunday, a mob gathered and hurled steel barriers, bricks, fireworks and bottles at officers patrolling Castlereagh Street in the east of the city.
Unrest was was also reported on Mountpottinger Road and Beersbridge Road.
Police used water cannon and fired baton rounds in Belfast on Saturday as they confronted more than 100 loyalist protesters who were throwing fireworks and bricks.
Officers reported coming under gunfire. A 38-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
The discussions aimed at ending the violence took place at a Belfast church, but Robin Newton, of the Democratic Unionist Party, said a lack of engagement from protest organisers was making it difficult to see an end to the unrest.
“We have to find a way out of this, but how we do it I don’t know,” he admitted.
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