[InOne]

Police have been attacked in east Belfast for the third day running.

About 100 loyalists attacked officers with bricks, bottles and smoke bombs. Police have used water cannon in response.

Earlier on Saturday, up to 1,000 loyalists protested outside Belfast City Hall over the decision to fly the union flag only on designated days.

On Friday, nine police were injured and 18 people arrested during rioting in east Belfast and Newtownabbey.

Saturday's trouble happened close to the nationalist Short Strand area.

Some loyalists claimed it was sparked when they were attacked by republicans.

Police have warned people to avoid the Newtownards Road between Bridge End and Holywood Arches.

Petrol bombs and missiles
More than 30 petrol bombs and other missiles were thrown as police dealt with serious disorder in east Belfast on Friday.

In Newtownabbey, police were attacked by a crowd throwing bricks and bottles.

Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson said violence against the police was a "disgrace".

He said those behind the recent unrest were playing into the hands of dissident republicans.

Trouble broke out on Friday in Castlereagh Street and Templemore Avenue, east Belfast, close to where 10 officers were injured in rioting on Thursday night.

A PSNI spokesman said officers had come under "sustained attack" from crowds of up to 300 people using fireworks, bricks and petrol bombs.

Eight officers were injured, including a female officer who required medical treatment in an ambulance at the scene.

Protest
It was reported that three attempts were made to hijack vehicles in nearby Beersbridge Road. A water canon was deployed but not used.


A protest was held outside city hall on Saturday
Police said 14 arrests took place during the disorder.

An officer was also injured during a protest in O'Neill Road in Newtownabbey, a town north of Belfast.

Police were attacked with bricks and bottles.

An attempt was made to hijack a bus in the area and commercial premises on O'Neill Road were broken into by several masked men who damaged the property and stole a sum of money.

One person was arrested.

Earlier, in Dundonald, police cleared a protest close to the Ulster Hospital. Three people were arrested.

A campaign of street demonstrations has been ongoing since Belfast City Council took a vote on 3 December which limited the number of days the union flag is flown at Belfast City Hall.

Some of the protests have resulted in violence.

To date, more than 40 police officers have been hurt, several politicians have received death threats and homes and property have been damaged.

It's got worse as well I think, the police have come under gun fire

[arista]

Yes same old troubles.

[Niamh.]

Could they not just hang the Northern Irish Flag there? I have a feeling some people just don't want a solution though

[Nedusa]

Stupid bigoted people living in the past , they need to get over themselves and realise that real change involves give and take , compromises have to be made in order to move forward. Irish Catholics living in Northern Ireland do not want to have their faces rubbed in the sand with excessive displays of sectarianism.

It's time to move forward and try living together not cling to the old practises of the past...!!!

[Novo]

It's Northern Ireland.. why the **** has the Union Flag got restrictions on it being displayed there? it's pathetic, i can't believe they were asking for it to be taken down all together. Nationalists won't stop until Northern Ireland's identity is completely stripped

[InOne]

There is a protest in Dublin on Saturday. Can't see that ending well at all....

[Nedusa]

This current Protest which shows no sign of stopping and has turned violent and has the potential to precipitate further escalating violence, is seriously undermining Belfast's attempt to portray itself as a peaceful modern city. These protests have had a serious impact on the number of shoppers in the city centre and the number of tourists visiting Belfast and the surrounding areas.

Having lived in Belfast in the eighties for a time and going back there now the change is wonderful to behold. Belfast is such a beautiful City with the hills set as a backdrop. This latest violence is unexpected,unwanted and totally unecessary...!!!

Because a few hundred residents insist on living in the past where they could on a daily basis rub their nationalist neighbours noses in the mud, the whole peace process is put at risk...!!!!

And for what...??? so that they can have "their" flag flying high every day to remind everyone especially people from the Irish Catholic community that they are BRITISH....

Why do they need this ? Union Flags are not flown on any other British building 365 days a year so why in Belfast ? As I said in an earlier post, stupid ignorant,bigoted people living in the past. They need to grow up and move on.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Nedusa

This current Protest which shows no sign of stopping and has turned violent and has the potential to precipitate further escalating violence, is seriously undermining Belfast's attempt to portray itself as a peaceful modern city. These protests have had a serious impact on the number of shoppers in the city centre and the number of tourists visiting Belfast and the surrounding areas.

Having lived in Belfast in the eighties for a time and going back there now the change is wonderful to behold. Belfast is such a beautiful City with the hills set as a backdrop. This latest violence is unexpected,unwanted and totally unecessary...!!!

Because a few hundred residents insist on living in the past where they could on a daily basis rub their nationalist neighbours noses in the mud, the whole peace process is put at risk...!!!!

And for what...??? so that they can have "their" flag flying high every day to remind everyone especially people from the Irish Catholic community that they are BRITISH....

Why do they need this ? Union Flags are not flown on any other British building 365 days a year so why in Belfast ? As I said in an earlier post, stupid ignorant,bigoted people living in the past. They need to grow up and move on.

[Kizzy]

I agree nedusa, after all the delicate negotiations and compromises trouble flares again over a flag..

[Jessica.]

That is just ridiculous, if they cared so much they could form a petition or something, I feel like many of them just want to rebel for the sake of it and will take any old excuse to cause trouble and endanger other people.

In my opinion, if someone loves their country, they don't need a flag to show that, regardless of what it represents, it's just a piece of material on a stick. People need to understand that other human beings and police officers are more important than a flag. I couldn't care less if they were flying a Japanese flag, as long as we were still free.

[Livia]

As far as I know, there aren't any town halls or council buildings in England that flies the union flag every day of the year. I don't see why they should in Northern Ireland apart from allowing one side to score points from the other.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Livia

As far as I know, there aren't any town halls or council buildings in England that flies the union flag every day of the year. I don't see why they should in Northern Ireland apart from allowing one side to score points from the other.

Exactly. It's a shame that a minority of people always want to spoil things over there and I mean on both sides, just happens to be Unionists this time.

[Kizzy]

It could be the economic problems Ireland has atm that are fuelling tensions though maybe?

[Shasown]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

It could be the economic problems Ireland has atm that are fuelling tensions though maybe?

Nope, its down to a very small minority of hardcore loyalist bigoted dinosaurs, who look upon every change to their way of life as an attack upon themselves and their culture.

They organise demonstrations knowing local youths will join in and then step up the trouble on on a regular basis in the hope that there will be a return to the old days when they held power over the populace.

[Niamh.]

Longtime no see Shasown, welcome back

[Shasown]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Longtime no see Shasown, welcome back

Thanks sexy lady, you still quick to apply the ball gag and the whip?

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Shasown

Thanks sexy lady, you still quick to apply the ball gag and the whip?

[Shasown]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Hmmm ok see you at you know where in 30 mins, wear the basque and hold ups and dont forget the crop.... I have been a very very naughty boy.....


Any way back on topic.... pmsl.

[InOne]

Fresh clashes: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-20998867

There's a video too, apparently that old man was mobbed :/