As a republican parade was set to hit the Ireland Streets, loyalist demonstrators tried to put a stop to it by challenging police at the event, Hit the jump for more details!
Chaos occurred in north Belfast Ireland, when a parade supporting the “mark of the introduction of internment without trial in Northern Ireland during the Troubles” began. The mayhem began when clashes between loyalists and republicans submerged causing in a number of cars to be become inflamed. Police tried to tame the situation by setting off 26 plastic baton rounds, while deploying 2 water cannons. Confrontations continued and escalated, beginning to cause injury to those stopping them, such as police officers.
Eight people were arrested during the altercation, also another man was reportedly causing more injury to officers by waving a sword.
The events come at a time when the city is flooded with tourists coming to attend the World Police And Fire Games.
Democratic Unionist North Belfast MLA Nelson McCausland commented saying:
“What should have been a great week for the city, with thousands of visitors for the World Police and Fire Games, has ended badly and the image of Northern Ireland has been tarnished by violence.”
Last month, Belfast endured mass rioting, “predominantly by loyalists” when ” Orangemen were prevented from parading past the nationalist Ardoyne area in the north of the city”. Residents are fearing further violence as more parades are set to take place within the area, commemorating two republicans who died during a bomb explosion that they had been working on.
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Via Telegraph
