09/01/2013
Rioters Vandalise Autistic Community Centre
Rioters protesting the union flag restrictions at Belfast City Hall broke into a community building for autistic children in an attempt to find missiles to throw at police officers, according to the PSNI.
The Templemore Avenue property is currently undergoing work to become an advice centre and care facility for autistic children.
Police say rioters ripped up scaffolding, fencing and parts of the building on Tuesday, in the sixth consecutive night of violence over the decision to restrict the flying of the union flag on top of Belfast City Hall.
The PSNI have also released footage which shows crowds of masked rioters attacking police lines during the protest.
It said that "from helicopter footage it became clear that individuals had forcibly entered a building owned by East Belfast Community Development Agency".
Officers then moved in to "physically move the crowd away from the community building".
Chief Superintendent Alan McCrum said: "Last night we saw a number of people on the streets who were intent on engaging in violence.
"They showed no regard for the local community and forcibly entered a premises that is being developed as a multi-purpose community site."
107 arrests have been made and 82 people charged since protests began over a Belfast City Council vote on 3 December to restrict the flying of the union flag.
Sixty-six police officers have been injured so far.
The flag has been raised on 9 January, the first of the designated days during which the union flag will be flown.
The flag is being flown to mark the Duchess of Cambridge’s birthday and will be removed later.
(IT)
The Templemore Avenue property is currently undergoing work to become an advice centre and care facility for autistic children.
Police say rioters ripped up scaffolding, fencing and parts of the building on Tuesday, in the sixth consecutive night of violence over the decision to restrict the flying of the union flag on top of Belfast City Hall.
The PSNI have also released footage which shows crowds of masked rioters attacking police lines during the protest.
It said that "from helicopter footage it became clear that individuals had forcibly entered a building owned by East Belfast Community Development Agency".
Officers then moved in to "physically move the crowd away from the community building".
Chief Superintendent Alan McCrum said: "Last night we saw a number of people on the streets who were intent on engaging in violence.
"They showed no regard for the local community and forcibly entered a premises that is being developed as a multi-purpose community site."
107 arrests have been made and 82 people charged since protests began over a Belfast City Council vote on 3 December to restrict the flying of the union flag.
Sixty-six police officers have been injured so far.
The flag has been raised on 9 January, the first of the designated days during which the union flag will be flown.
The flag is being flown to mark the Duchess of Cambridge’s birthday and will be removed later.
(IT)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
