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21/06/2001
SECTARIAN TENSIONS ESCALATE IN NORTH BELFAST
SECTARIAN tensions in north Belfast continue to escalate after another night of violent clashes between nationalists and loyalists and the police.
At times crowds of up to 600 loyalists and nationalists clashed with police officers trying to keep rival factions apart in the Ardoyne area of North Belfast.
Tensions have been running high in the area since an Orange Order parade took place last Friday.
During the overnight rioting the Royal Ulster Constabulary, came under heavy and sustained attacks. More than 100 bombs were thrown at police, as well as bricks and stones and a total of nine shots were fired at the police, three of which came from the republican side and six from the loyalist side.
The disturbances left 39 RUC police officers injured and five officers required hospital treatment. Vehicles were hijacked and burned and a total of eight plastic baton rounds were fired at rioters.
Assistant Chief Constable for Belfast, Alan McQuillan, said problems had been developing in the area for a number of days and when police forced the rival groups apart, both sides then turned on the RUC.
Mr McQuillan said: “Ardoyne is one of the most difficult and notorious community interfaces in Belfast. The latest disturbances are nothing more than naked sectarian rioting with the police and Army caught in the middle keeping the factions apart.”
ACC McQuillan said: "Police cannot make the peace. We can only maintain a buffer between the two communities. This is not a normal way to live and I would appeal to people in the area to use common sense.”
On Thursday June 21 the police reported the necessity to maintain their presence around the Holy Cross Girls’ Primary School, where trouble first broke out when children and their parents were prevented leaving the school by stone throwing youths on Tuesday 19 June.
The District Commander for North Belfast, Chief Superintendent Roger Maxwell, has appealed for restraint and calm and asked community leaders and all people of goodwill to bring to bear whatever influence they could to restore normality. (AMcE)
At times crowds of up to 600 loyalists and nationalists clashed with police officers trying to keep rival factions apart in the Ardoyne area of North Belfast.
Tensions have been running high in the area since an Orange Order parade took place last Friday.
During the overnight rioting the Royal Ulster Constabulary, came under heavy and sustained attacks. More than 100 bombs were thrown at police, as well as bricks and stones and a total of nine shots were fired at the police, three of which came from the republican side and six from the loyalist side.
The disturbances left 39 RUC police officers injured and five officers required hospital treatment. Vehicles were hijacked and burned and a total of eight plastic baton rounds were fired at rioters.
Assistant Chief Constable for Belfast, Alan McQuillan, said problems had been developing in the area for a number of days and when police forced the rival groups apart, both sides then turned on the RUC.
Mr McQuillan said: “Ardoyne is one of the most difficult and notorious community interfaces in Belfast. The latest disturbances are nothing more than naked sectarian rioting with the police and Army caught in the middle keeping the factions apart.”
ACC McQuillan said: "Police cannot make the peace. We can only maintain a buffer between the two communities. This is not a normal way to live and I would appeal to people in the area to use common sense.”
On Thursday June 21 the police reported the necessity to maintain their presence around the Holy Cross Girls’ Primary School, where trouble first broke out when children and their parents were prevented leaving the school by stone throwing youths on Tuesday 19 June.
The District Commander for North Belfast, Chief Superintendent Roger Maxwell, has appealed for restraint and calm and asked community leaders and all people of goodwill to bring to bear whatever influence they could to restore normality. (AMcE)
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