Motorists asked to avoid West Belfast as youths gather for second night
It is the second night in a row that crowds have gathered along the peace line.
Last updated 8th Apr 2021
Crowds of youths have gathered tonight again in West Belfast.
There have been reports of some stones being thrown at Police Officers, and local representatives have asked motorists to avoid the area.
Videos on Police water cannons being mobilized have also started to circulate online.
It is understood there are adults are on the ground tonight appealing for no more violence after disorder broke out on the streets last night (Wednesday).
Today police said the episode yesterday was the worst they had seen in years, with over 600 people taking to the streets.
In all, 55 police officers have now been injured during violence in NI in the last week.
A bus was hijacked and set alight, petrol bombs, masonry and fireworks were thrown at officers and a peace wall gate was lit up in flames.
A press photographer was also attacked.
It comes after the Secretary of State, Brandon Lewis, flew over to Northern Ireland today (Thursday) to hold emergency talks with political leaders and faith and community leaders following a week of violent attacks on police.
He too condemned the recent attacks on Police officers.
Mr Lewis also called on the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) to publicly condemn the violence in recent days.
He said: “My message to the LCC would be that the right thing for them to do is come out and be very clear (they are) against violence.
“There is a proper political process and they have been clear that violence in the past is not the way to move forward and they need to be clear about that again.”
The Executive has also condemned the violence and Stormont MLAs unanimously passed a motion calling for an end to the disorder.
In a joint statement, the five-party Executive said: “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.''
Mr Lewis has welcomed the statement from the Executive.
He said: “It's really good to see all five parties coming together with a clear statement which is that violence is not acceptable.
“I'll be the first to acknowledge over the first few months of the year there were real issues around how the protocol has landed for people, both as consumers and those in the loyalist and unionist community.
“The way to deal with these things is through a democratic and diplomatic, political process. There is no legitimisation of violence to deal with any of those issues.
“It doesn't serve anyone's cause whatever their concern is on any given issue.''
He denied that he plans to meet with the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC).
He added: “I am always willing to meet with anyone who is clear that the process for taking issues forward is a democratic proper political process. ''
The violence happening here in Northern Ireland has also reached the attention of the Biden administration.
It has appealed for calm and voiced its support for the Brexit protocol.
At a briefing on today (Thursday), White House press secretary Jen Psaki said: “We are concerned by the violence in Northern Ireland and we join the British, Irish and Northern Irish leaders in their calls for calm.
“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.'
Speaking in the Assembly, which was recalled early from Easter because of the violence, Justice Minister Naomi Long said it is a “miracle that no-one was killed''.
During the debate, DUP leader Arlene Foster said the scenes witnessed were “totally unacceptable''.
The First Minister said the injuries to police officers caused harm to Northern Ireland's image and people's property had taken the region backwards.
She said that the future required political leadership.
The Deputy First Minister, Michelle O'Neill, has also condemned the violence and described recent actions as “dangerous and unacceptable”.
She said illegal loyalist paramilitaries and criminal elements were influencing young people and orchestrating the violence.
She said: “They are holding back their own people and they are holding back their own community.”
However, Assistant Chief Constable Jonathan Roberts later said during a press conference that he could not confirm whether paramilitary groups were involved in recent riots.
He said: “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.''
An estimated 600 people gathered on either side on the Lanark Way peace wall gates from 5pm, which escalated to “significant disorder''.
The violence is unfolding at a time of increasing rancour in the political sphere amid tensions over Brexit's Irish Sea trade border and the fallout from the police's handling of a mass republican funeral that took place during pandemic restrictions last year.
As rioting has flared across Northern Ireland, all four main unionist parties continue to call for PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne to quit over how his service dealt with the funeral of former IRA leader Bobby Storey.
Unionists are furious at a decision by prosecutors not to take action against 24 Sinn Fein politicians, including Ms O'Neill, for attending the funeral - a decision partly related to the fact that police had engaged with organisers before the event that drew 2,000 people on to the streets.
Mr Byrne has vowed not to resign and has signalled a desire to engage with people who have concerns about policing in the region.
Wednesday's scenes of violence flooded social media and prompted UK
Prime Minister Boris Johnson to appeal for calm.
He tweeted: “I am deeply concerned by the scenes of violence in Northern Ireland, especially attacks on PSNI who are protecting the public and businesses, attacks on a bus driver and the assault of a journalist.
“The way to resolve differences is through dialogue, not violence or criminality.''
Crowds have gathered at Lanark Way and West Circular Road at its junction with the Springfield Road in west Belfast.
Young people from the Springfield road area of West Belfast clash with police
Police had to close roads as crowds from each divide attacked each other.
Nationalist youths clash with the PSNI
Petrol bombs launched over the peace wall.
Petrol bombs launched over the peace wall.
Embers burn at the peace wall during night of violence.
A firework explodes as Nationalists and Loyalists clash with one another at the peace wall.
Hijacked cars burn at the peace wall on Lanark Way
Nationalist youths clashing with the PSNI close to the peace line.
Nationalists jump to avoid a petrol bomb thrown by Loyalists over the peace wall.
What's left of the hijacked and burnt out bus on the Shankill Road (Thursday 8th April)
General view of a burnt out bus on Belfasts Shankill Road.
Read More:
Bus hijacked and set on fire during Lanark Way protest
Violence: Call for hijacking and assault witnesses
BELFAST STREET VIOLENCE: SoS to hold talks with NI party leaders
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