The Five Demands

Police petrol-bombed at Alliance office (UTV)

A police car has been petrol-bombed outside the east Belfast office of Alliance MP Naomi Long, during the latest protests over the flying of the Union flag being restricted at City Hall.

UTV’s reporter Jane Loughrey, who is at the scene on the Newtownards Road, says no officers have been hurt but that the incident is being treated as attempted murder.

She says a patrol car was attacked with iron bars and then a petrol bomb thrown inside. One male officer was inside and another outside the vehicle were unharmed.

An ambulance and other emergency services are present.

Violence has also broken out in a number of areas, with water cannons deployed in the Village area of south Belfast after officers came under attack.

Missiles, including masonry, fireworks and bottles, have been thrown at officers in the Tavanagh Street and Broadway areas.

While a 200-strong protest with flags and placards at Broadway roundabout has now ended, a number of people remain.

According to UTV reporter Peter Cardwell, who is at the scene, riot police got out of police vans and ran towards protestors who retreated, but the stand-off is continuing.

Motorists are still advised to avoid the area, due to debris on the roads.

Rush hour traffic throughout the city was hit by major delays on Monday evening, as loyalists blocked a number of main routes.

Earlier in east Belfast, the Upper Newtownards Road was blocked for a time by hundreds of protestors and police urged people to be aware of the potential impact on the nearby Ulster Hospital.

“Protestors are reminded that this is bringing serious disruption to the lives of the local community and that a peaceful protest can only be facilitated for a limited time,” the PSNI spokesman said.

“The priority must be ensuring free access to the Ulster Hospital and preservation of life.

“We would ask everyone to heed police instructions and keep the road clear to ensure access to the Ulster Hospital is not blocked and that traffic is not delayed.”

In Lisburn, the Queens Road has been blocked by protestors and diversions are in place.

In north Belfast, the Crumlin Road was closed for a time between its junction with Cambria Street and Hesketh Road – also due to a protest in the area.

Police also monitored protests throughout the evening at Finaghy crossroads, Shaws Bridge, Seymour Hill in Dunmurry, and on the Ormeau Road.

Traffic came to a standstill for a time when protestors gathered at Ormeau Bridge, before being moved down Annadale Embankment by police.

Meanwhile, in Ballyclare around 140 people protested at the town’s square, while a protest was also held in Limavady. And in Ballycastle, protestors gathered outside Moyle District Council offices.

Motorists in all affected areas are being advised to seek alternative routes.

There are children in childcare who are will be distressed by their parent’s failure to collect them. Do the protestors want to be known as people who cause distress to young children?

Conall McDevitt, SDLP
South Belfast SDLP MLA Conall McDevitt has condemned the violence and subsequent disruption.

“Whatever political points people want to make by blocking roads and attacking the PSNI will be lost in the anger they have ignited among working people trying to get home to their families,” he said.

“Blocking roads serves no practical purpose and undermines any cause people feel they may be furthering and is deeply damaging the reputation of the City.

“Political unionism needs to show leadership to bring an immediate end to these protests.”

Meanwhile, the leaders of the DUP and UUP have met on Monday evening to discuss the flag issue.

Peter Robinson and Mike Nesbitt held talks for over an hour and, according to a joint statement, “agreed to work on a joint basis with a view to urgently bringing forward political proposals to address widespread concerns across the community”.

They say further discussions will be held on Tuesday in order to “finalise a strategy”.