Latest loyalist rioting saw missiles thrown onto motorway and taxi bricked

The PSNI have given a breakdown of the latest night of street disorder in loyalist districts of the country.
oyalists block the North Road in Carrickfergus close to the Castlemara Estate in Co Antrim on Monday evening.oyalists block the North Road in Carrickfergus close to the Castlemara Estate in Co Antrim on Monday evening.
oyalists block the North Road in Carrickfergus close to the Castlemara Estate in Co Antrim on Monday evening.

Nine officers were injured during disorder on Monday night, bringing the total number of police officers injured during recent violence to 41.

There was renewed unrest in Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus, Ballymena, and Londonderry.

The unrest in the first three locations began at about 6pm.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The nine officers injured were in Ballymena, and police say it happened “after Tactical Support Group officers were attacked after police attempted to engage with those present at an un-notified procession in the town, in the Crebilly Road area, at around 9:35pm.”

Footage online shows a line of riot police being petrol bombed as people shout at them, accusing them of being “Provo-loving b*****ds”.

Overnight, as a result of the disorder in Ballymena, police said a stretch of the M2 was closed to allow debris to be cleared from the carriageway – “including a wheelie bin, that had been thrown onto the motorway”.

In Carrickfergus, an 18-year-old man was arrested last night on suspicion of possessing articles for use with petrol bombs, and he remains in custody.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Police gave little information on the Newtownabbey disorder, which has so far been concentrated in the Cloughfern / Fernagh / Rathcoole areas.

North Area PSNI commander Chief Superintendent Davy Beck said: “Not only did their reckless and criminal behaviour place the lives of our officers in danger, but such senseless behaviour shows the blatant disregard those responsible have for the safety of others by throwing debris onto a motorway.

“It is extremely fortunate no one was seriously injured, or worse.

“As your police service we are here to protect life and property and to keep people safe, and we will continue to do that. However, I am calling on all those who have influence to do what you can to bring an end to this violence as no one wants a repeat of these disgraceful scenes.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And in Londonderry, last night was the seventh in a row that disorder has flared in the city.

The disorder started when police were dealing with a security alert in what they called the Templemore area (believed to be a reference to Templemore Road in the republican-dominated west of the city) yesterday afternoon, and a number of petrol bombs were thrown at police.

Later in the evening, it was also reported two vehicles were set on fire in the Nelson Drive area of the Waterside in the east of the city, where it was reported a number of youths had gathered, and bins were set on fire on the road.

olice also received a report about a brick being thrown at a taxi, which was carrying a passenger at the time, on Limavady Road at around 11,30pm.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

They said: “Thankfully, neither the driver or passenger were injured. There were also reports of bins being set on fire in the area.”

Click here for more from this reporter:

A message from the Editor:

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers — and consequently the revenue we receive — we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Alistair Bushe

Editor