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PETROL BOMBS, PAINT bombs and sacks of stones were among the items seized by PSNI officers in Northern Ireland last night.
There were disturbances in East and North Belfast, Newtownabbey and Portadown with fireworks and missiles thrown at police but overall there were less incidents than in previous nights.
A PSNI spokesperson said that no police officers were injured, water cannons were not deployed and no plastic bullets were discharged by police.
There was an increased police presence around North Belfast last night because of a soccer match between Glasgow Celtic and local team Cliftonville and 12 paint bombs were recovered by police near the stadium. A community representative also destroyed two petrol bombs in the are area which are believed to have been made by children.
(Children play football beside a specially painted mural before the Champions League qualifying tie in Belfast. Niall Carson/PA Wire/PA Images)
In East Belfast a small amount of missiles were thrown from the Tower Street area towards Templemore Avenue. A firework was thrown from Newtownards Road towards the Templemore Avenue area at approximately 11.50pm.
In Newtownabbey a number of missiles were thrown at police lines by youths while bricks and fireworks were thrown at police in Portadown.
Police are also appealing for information following a cash in transit robbery in Newtownabbey early this morning. Two men, one with a firearm in his possession, approached cash in transit staff outside a bank on Farmley Road at about 6.45am before made off with a cash box in a silver Honda Civic car.
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Let us never forget that about 70 years ago Belfast Celtic played Linfield one day. The loyalist supporters caught and kicked one of the Celtic players to death. Their descendants are out rioting now. Nothing changes.
The problem with that is as soon as anyone in the north says “lets not forget” ,the opposing community never fails to remind you of a similar tragedy they’ve suffered. I’m not saying we should forget, I’m just saying we all need to change our perspective.
What’s the opposite of a Merry-go-round?! Truly hate this sh*t from both sides.
Jimmy Jones suffered a broken leg. As far as I am aware, no one was killed. Not justifying it, just setting the record straight
Correct
Orange Order taking a mid week breather?
After the success of last weekend they have decided to try to force another march down through the Ardoyne.
Looking at a Belfast march this year on Youtube, loyal brethern shouting at residents that they were 2nd class citizens and dozens of drunk loyalists following the march joking about stamping on young Robbie Hammil’s head.
Great bunch of lads and if Catholics can’t take a friendly death threat or joke about family members being killed then it is not the fault of the Orange Order.
Me here, your friendly nordie on the ground. Last night was a great night for Belfast. The Falls Rd had an atmosphere rarely experienced, with the place coming to a standstill all in the name of sport. The bars were heaving onto the streets, men women and kids were dressed in celtic and cliftonville tops having banter and general merryment.
In response to the comments above, those kids were playing and walking through their own areas, they know those streets better than you or I. It’s a tight knit community and front doors would have been opened if there was any danger.
Fair play to the community rep for destroying the petrol bombs and to the psni for bringing in an extra 300 resources to cope with what could have been carnage.
That’d be Q.E.D right there Aine.
You can’t even go watch a football match in peace.
My mother would have killed me had I behaved like this!
It was the kafflics fault, the smell of mass of themmuns sends loyalists loco.
So the answer to this is not let kids wear their fav football team top cause of bigots?and it is tribal but so is gaa and rugby and most other team sports
Parents sending their kids out in celtic tops amidst all the trouble. Shocking really
They’re going to watch a celtic football match. The only thing thats shocking is your ridiculous comment.
I wore a Leinster top to a game below in Munster for a game and had the p1ss firmly taken from me. It was good natured rivalry, and if anything added to the atmosphere/enjoyment of the game.
The problem isn’t the Celtic jersey, its how its viewed. Is it fair to criticize the wearing of your sides colours for a game, and not criticize those who react to it?
(and yes, I’d say the same if Rangers had been up against Linfield)
Sectarian trouble and riots in North belfast, everyone has seen the photos and videos of the trouble. One question! As a responsible parent, would you send your child out alone wearing a celtic top and carrying a tricolour?
Seems “ridiculous” to be sending children into troubled areas alone with the knowledge of what celtic tops and tricolours mean to the rioters.
The only thing I’d allow my kids to wear in certain areas of Belfast at the minute is a tank. However, its not for me to judge someone else’s choice. I would still defend the right of anyone, to wear anything, anywhere.
In most contexts football colours are worn to show tribalism and as you say add a bit of atmosphere between opposing sides. However, we have an abnormal situation in belfast at present, one which is volatile and dangerous. I’m suggesting that the parents of the girls pictured have not acted responsibly. As a parent I would not send my kids out onto the troubled streets of belfast wearing those colors at this particular point in time.
Stephen. I think most people will place the blame firmly on the hundreds of hoods dressed up in camp uniforms, waving beautifully woven banners and then descending in to riots where they use ceremonial swords on the police.
Maybe your right, maybe children in Celtic tops are they cause of this.
Poppycock! If nationalists were rioting you would be happy to send the kids into the middle of it wearing rangers tops or union jacks? It’s not about blame, its about protecting your children from coming to harm. Or maybe you feel you should use your children as pawns?
Stephen
the picture shows 2 people leaving the cliftonville-celtic champions league match that took place last night ,
wearing a football jersey in support of your team is not tribalism , (you telling me football jersey’s should be banned ?)
If my young lad wanted to wear a two piece bikini I’d defend his right to do it.
Not at all, people love their celtic and rangers tops, stay classy belfast.
As adults you can do what you want.
I’m commenting that as a parent I wouldn’t send my kids into the middle of a riot area dressed like that.
Simples
Stephen , are the 2 kids in the photo in the middle of a riot zone ?
No. so give it a rest
You’re consistently missing the point.
Sean, im not in belfast so maybe you can tell me? I’m going by the coverage on all the major news networks. North belfast? Solitude? Riots? David Begley urging fans not to wear celtic tops? Paint bombs, petrol bombs found near the stadium?
Yeah kids. Get the celtic tops on and grab that tricolor, you’ll be grand out there
In most of Belfast there are people out shopping, drinking coffee etc etc wearing all sorts.
Lot of the rioting is about the UVF in that part of Belfast trying to drive the PSNI out of the area, the Orange Order are going along with that because they have always relied on Loyalist muscle to act for them when needed.
Common sense must be exercised when wearing a lot of football tops in this country, Celtic, Rangers, GAA, Linfield, Glentoran, Cliftonville etc Theres parts of NI where you’d get battered for wearing an NI top for christ sake, thats the reality.
have your say