Petrol Bombs Thrown In Belfast Street Violence

Local political representatives were taken by surprise last night when Belfast went back to its troubled past with petrol bombs and stones thrown at police.

The street violence erupted in east and south Belfast on Monday night and saw roads in the Markets area of the city closed to traffic after trouble broke out at Cromac Street and also at the Lower Newtownards Road.

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster this morning, former Belfast Mayor, Sinn Fein Assembly Member Alex Maskey said the violence was "unacceptable and very, very regrettable".

He condemned those responsible for what he called a "wanton disregard for the good name of their area, never mind the safety of people passing".

Police said last night that a small number of petrol bombs were thrown at their officers in the disturbances, but there were no reports of any injuries or arrests.

Mr Maskey added: "It is very disappointing that we had a number of young people gathered last night who started to thrown stones and other missiles at passing vehicles - some of which contained families and young children."

He said it flew in the face of the efforts of people in the nationalist areas to work with young people and provide activities for them. Police officers have come under attack with stones and petrol bombs during overnight rioting in the streets of south and east Belfast.

Meanwhile, the trouble also spread across the Lagan Bridge to the Lower Newtownards Road at Pitt Park.

In November last year a District Policing Partnership (DPP) meeting was forced out of Belfast's Markets area.

Those attending said that even young children were enlisted for the rowdy, intimidatory 'protest' at a meeting of the south-Belfast sub-committee of the city's district policing partnership.

DPP Chairman Pat McCarthy, of the SDLP, said about 20 republican protestors holding placards disrupted it.

He said there were children present ranging from 10 to 15 years old: "It was particularly targeted at myself and the two Sinn Fein councillors on the DPP," he said.

Speaking at the time, the PSNI's then Area Commander, Michele Larmour, said she was "deeply disappointed" by the events.

See: Policing Partnership Meeting Abandoned

(BMcC)