Rioters "intended to kill police"
.....not a thread that you might think it is.
Here the rioters are Protestant loyalists in Northern Ireland and some of the worst "troubles" in recent years happened in Belfast yesterday.
Check it out:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4235278.stm
More than 30 police officers were injured in Northern Ireland's worst rioting in years, the chief constable has said.
Sir Hugh Orde said at least 50 live rounds were fired by loyalist paramilitaries at police and Army in a "sustained and violent attack".
Rioters in Belfast intended to kill police and it was lucky "we have no dead police officers", he said.
Trouble broke out after a disputed Protestant Orange Order parade.
The security forces fired 450 plastic bullets and seven live rounds. Several people were arrested.
A "bomb factory" had been discovered in Belfast and seven firearms recovered, said Sir Hugh.
A major police investigation would now be launched following the events, he said.
The situation in Belfast and other parts of County Antrim is quiet after some of the worst rioting for years.
All those with influence in the community, including the Orange Order and unionist politicians, must condemn this violence and give their full support to the PSNI
About 1,000 police and 1,000 soldiers were deployed to deal with the violence.
Sir Hugh said it was one of the most dangerous riot situations ever faced by officers in the UK.
Police returned live fire after being targeted by automatic weapons.
Loyalist rioters attacked police with homemade bombs, bricks, bottles, petrol bombs, blast bombs, pipe bombs and live rounds.
A man injured by a blast bomb is in a critical condition in hospital.
Secretary of State Peter Hain condemned the violence. "Attempted murder cannot in any way be justified," he said. He will meet NI's police chief on Monday.
Mr Hain said the rioting and attacks on the police and Army were totally unacceptable.
"There can be no ambiguity or excuse for breaking the law. All those with influence in the community, including the Orange Order and unionist politicians, must condemn this violence and give their full support to the PSNI."
Sir Hugh said the Orange Order bore substantial responsibility for the rioting and attacks on his officers.
The Orange Order described his remarks as "inflammatory".
At a news conference in Belfast on Sunday, Sir Hugh said he saw members of the Orange Order attacking PSNI officers.
The violence had been orchestrated and the police response had been proportionate and responsible, he said.
"Petrol bombs don't appear by accident, blast bombs do not appear by accident and certainly firearms have to be planned to be produced in the way they were produced," said Sir Hugh.
The Orange Order parade had "become illegal" and "fundamentally breached" the Parades Commission's determination on several counts, said the chief constable.
Of the 450 plastic baton rounds fired, about 250 were fired by the Army and the remainder by the PSNI, said the chief constable.
The police fired six live rounds and the Army fired one live round at a gunman, he said.
Ballymena is calm after serious rioting on the Larne Road.
Petrol bombs were thrown at the police and violence spread to Ahoghill, where youths gathered in the centre of the village, setting cars on fire, damaging houses and throwing fireworks at police.
Cars were hijacked and roads were also blocked in Ballyclare, Glengormley, Rathcoole, Larne and Carrickfergus, as the violence spread.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Just to re-interate that all the violence in Northern Ireland DOES NOT COME FROM THE REPUBLICANS
and to remind us that the rest of the world is churning around as the USA is focused on itself.
Very sad news from N.I. indeed.
.....not a thread that you might think it is.
Here the rioters are Protestant loyalists in Northern Ireland and some of the worst "troubles" in recent years happened in Belfast yesterday.
Check it out:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4235278.stm
More than 30 police officers were injured in Northern Ireland's worst rioting in years, the chief constable has said.
Sir Hugh Orde said at least 50 live rounds were fired by loyalist paramilitaries at police and Army in a "sustained and violent attack".
Rioters in Belfast intended to kill police and it was lucky "we have no dead police officers", he said.
Trouble broke out after a disputed Protestant Orange Order parade.
The security forces fired 450 plastic bullets and seven live rounds. Several people were arrested.
A "bomb factory" had been discovered in Belfast and seven firearms recovered, said Sir Hugh.
A major police investigation would now be launched following the events, he said.
The situation in Belfast and other parts of County Antrim is quiet after some of the worst rioting for years.
All those with influence in the community, including the Orange Order and unionist politicians, must condemn this violence and give their full support to the PSNI
About 1,000 police and 1,000 soldiers were deployed to deal with the violence.
Sir Hugh said it was one of the most dangerous riot situations ever faced by officers in the UK.
Police returned live fire after being targeted by automatic weapons.
Loyalist rioters attacked police with homemade bombs, bricks, bottles, petrol bombs, blast bombs, pipe bombs and live rounds.
A man injured by a blast bomb is in a critical condition in hospital.
Secretary of State Peter Hain condemned the violence. "Attempted murder cannot in any way be justified," he said. He will meet NI's police chief on Monday.
Mr Hain said the rioting and attacks on the police and Army were totally unacceptable.
"There can be no ambiguity or excuse for breaking the law. All those with influence in the community, including the Orange Order and unionist politicians, must condemn this violence and give their full support to the PSNI."
Sir Hugh said the Orange Order bore substantial responsibility for the rioting and attacks on his officers.
The Orange Order described his remarks as "inflammatory".
At a news conference in Belfast on Sunday, Sir Hugh said he saw members of the Orange Order attacking PSNI officers.
The violence had been orchestrated and the police response had been proportionate and responsible, he said.
"Petrol bombs don't appear by accident, blast bombs do not appear by accident and certainly firearms have to be planned to be produced in the way they were produced," said Sir Hugh.
The Orange Order parade had "become illegal" and "fundamentally breached" the Parades Commission's determination on several counts, said the chief constable.
Of the 450 plastic baton rounds fired, about 250 were fired by the Army and the remainder by the PSNI, said the chief constable.
The police fired six live rounds and the Army fired one live round at a gunman, he said.
Ballymena is calm after serious rioting on the Larne Road.
Petrol bombs were thrown at the police and violence spread to Ahoghill, where youths gathered in the centre of the village, setting cars on fire, damaging houses and throwing fireworks at police.
Cars were hijacked and roads were also blocked in Ballyclare, Glengormley, Rathcoole, Larne and Carrickfergus, as the violence spread.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Just to re-interate that all the violence in Northern Ireland DOES NOT COME FROM THE REPUBLICANS
and to remind us that the rest of the world is churning around as the USA is focused on itself.
Very sad news from N.I. indeed.