The Five Demands

Fresh trouble in east Belfast (UTV)

Trouble has erupted in east Belfast for the fourth consecutive night, in the wake of a loyalist flag protest on Sunday night.

Police are advising motorists to avoid the Castlereagh Street, Albertbridge Road, Beersbridge Road, and Mountpottinger Road areas due to ongoing public disorder which broke out shortly before 9pm.

Officers have come under attack from fireworks and missiles, including bottles and bricks.

UTV’s Marc Mallett says a car has been set alight at the Templemore Avenue junction with Beersbridge Road. He said violence is not “on the same scale as previous nights”.

Meanwhile police in Ballymena say they dealt with “instances of public disorder in the Ballykeel area” where a road was blocked.

It is understood the trouble erupted outside Ballykeel Presbyterian Church, disrupting people going to the Sunday night service.

Police said a petrol bomb was thrown, while a number of bins were set alight.

Earlier, PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott said police will deal with rioting “for however long is necessary”.

“The Police Service will continue to do everything possible to maintain law and order and we will deal firmly with outbreaks of violence,” he said.

“As you have seen in the last few days we will continue to apprehend and put people before the courts.”

A 52-year-old has become the latest man charged with disorderly behaviour, in connection with rioting in Belfast. He will appear at Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

As is normal procedure all charges will be reviewed by the PPS.

Related articles

• Trouble flares after flag protest (bbc.co.uk)
• Third night of violence in Belfast – ITN (itn.co.uk)
• Belfast rioters labelled a ‘disgrace’ as officers are pelted with petrol bombs (metro.co.uk)
• Gunmen fire on police in Belfast as flag dispute continues (guardian.co.uk)
• Shots fired at police in East Belfast in latest night of flag protest violence (irishcentral.com)
• VIDEO: Belfast counts the cost of protests (bbc.co.uk)
• PSNI officers injured in further Belfast protests (rte.ie)
• Trouble after city flag protest (bbc.co.uk)
• Shots fired at police in flag row (express.co.uk)
• Talks aimed at ending flag protests (newsletter.co.uk)