Third night of loyalist riots　

Posted by Jim on January 6, 2013

A loyalist gunman opened fire tonight in east Belfast as three nights

of rioting by the paramilitary UVF escalated. Tonight again saw attacks

against both the PSNI police and residents of the nationalist Short

Strand enclave.

The PSNI said they had come under fire and arrested a loyalist on

suspicion of attempted murder.

While examples of British state forces in the North coming under fire

from unionist paramilitaries are extremely rare, the incident marks a

potentially significant development in the UVF’s campaign of terror.

There have been paramilitary-orchestrated protests in Belfast since

early December when Alliance members on Belfast City Council voted with

Sinn Fein and the SDLP to restrict the number of days on which the

British union flag flies over City Hall to 15 from 365.

The violence, which stopped over Christmas, began again on Thursday.

Today’s disorder began this afternoon when hundreds of loyalists

returning east from a protest at City Hall again attacked nationalist

homes in the Short Strand enclave, before turning their firepower on

the PSNI. The PSNI turned water cannon against more than 100 loyalists

hurling fireworks, smoke bombs and bricks, before gunshots rang out.

Last night saw open street violence on the Lower Newtownards Road, the

Beersbridge area and in Newtownabbey areas of Belfast. Missiles

including petrol bombs, fireworks, bricks and ball bearings were again

thrown at nationalists and the PSNI.

‘PROTECT THE SHORT STRAND’

Local Sinn Fein Councillor Niall O Donnghaile called on the PSNI to

ensure that attacks on isolated catholic communities like the Short

Strand “masked under the guise of flag protests” are brought to an

immediate end.

“There has been some good work done by the PSNI in keeping unionist

rioters away from this community but significant mistakes have been

made in facilitating illegal protests and marches in East Belfast,” the

former Sinn Fein Lord Mayor added.

East Belfast MP Naomi Long described reports that shots had been fired

in the vicinity as “deeply disturbing.” The Alliance politician said it

was further proof the ongoing protests were becoming inextricably

linked with violence.

“This latest rioting, and chilling reports of shots being fired, mark a

new low and must be unequivocally condemned. The context for policing

them has changed as the protests and violence have become more

orchestrated,” she said.

Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore also condemned the loyalist violence.

“This is the third successive day of unrest in Belfast,” he said.

“These attacks over the past three days are not the mark of legitimate

protest but are the actions of a small group who want to bring Northern

Ireland back to a darker past”.