Police have blamed pro-British paramilitary groups for fuelling the violence in the Northern Ireland capital. File | Photo credit: AFP
Police in Northern Ireland on Sunday criticised “disgraceful” violence by pro-Irish unity youths in Londonderry which left 10 policemen injured, the latest night of unrest to rock the British region.
The violent incidents in the city, also known as Derry, follow nightly riots in Belfast and elsewhere last week that initially resembled the unrest in English towns and cities after the Southport knife attack.
Police have blamed pro-British loyalist paramilitary groups for fueling the violence in the Northern Ireland capital, which has lasted longer than the riots in England, where recent days and nights have been largely peaceful. Far-right agitators have been blamed for the incidents there.
Ten officers were injured after rioters hurled petrol bombs, fireworks and missiles late Saturday night in Londonderry. “The scenes we witnessed were abhorrent,” Derry City and Strabane Police Superintendent William Calderwood said. “It is appalling to see our officers injured as a result of this violence,” he said, adding that one arrest had been made.
More than 50 youths were involved in the clashes, which lasted for several hours, following a march in the city by pro-British loyalists.
The march, an annual Protestant parade through the predominantly Catholic town near the border with the Republic of Ireland, passed off without incident.
Disturbances are a regular occurrence during the annual Protestant marching season in Northern Ireland.