| 2011 Northern Ireland riots | |
|---|---|
Riot police and a burnt-out car in Ardoyne |
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| Location | Belfast, Portadown, Newry, Ballyclare, Larne, Derry, Ballymena |
| Date | 20–22 June 2011, 1 July 2011, 9-16 July 2011 |
| Characteristics | demonstrations, rioting, car burnings, houses damaged, gun battles |
| Injured | 300+ |
| Result |
|
| Arrests | 50+ |
The 2011 Northern Ireland riots (formerly 2011 East Belfast riots until areas out side of Belfast got involved) were a series of riots between 20-22 June 2011, 1 July 2011 and between 9-16 July 2011, starting originally in Belfast, before spreading to other parts of Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
Contents |
The sectarian violence began around 2100 BST on the night of Monday 20 June, when a large number of Loyalists made their way from the Loyalist Mount and Castlereagh Street areas to the Nationalist Short Strand enclave.[1] This provoked a response from the nationalists, which resulted in both communities seeking to get involved in conflict with each other.[1] The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) assistant Chief Constable Alistair Finlay said that around 500-600 people were involved in the rioting.[2] According to the PSNI, the riots are said to have been initially instigated by the Ulster Volunteer Force.[3][4]
The clashes saw various dangerous objects such as petrol bombs, bricks, bottles, fireworks and smoke bombs thrown by both sides in what police described as "high-level, life-threatening, organised, serious and sustained" attack by people "hell-bent on disorder".[4] At one point six shots where fired from the nationalist Short Strand area followed by about five shots from the loyalist Pitt Park.[4] Two shots hit a police Land Rover in what the PSNI claimed was attempted murder on their officers.[1] One officer suffered eye injuries when a laser pen was being used to blind officers.[4]
On Tuesday night during further clashes between loyalists and republicans about 700 people were involved. A photographer was shot in the leg by a gunman firing from the nationalist area, which police blamed on dissident republicans.[2][5][6]
By Wednesday 22 June, discussions were held between community representatives, politicians, and loyalist and republican figures. The end result was for both sides to police their own communities to avoid further violence. Later that night the area was largely peaceful despite loyalist and republican groups — held back by community marshals — being involved for several hours in a stand-off at the Mountpottinger Road end of the Short Strand until around 0130 AM on Thursday morning.[5] Nationalist marshals however had to step in to stop nationalist youths attacking police Land Rovers.[5]
A 20 year old woman was arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon and assaulting police,[2] which was followed on the Wednesday by the arrest of a 22 year old man from west Belfast in relation to the rioting.[5]
A riot broke out on 1 July 2011 in Castlereagh Street and Mountpottinger Road, were the police had to use water canons again to stop rioting continuing into the night.
On 9th July, loyalist rioters attacked the PSNI in Ballyclare after the PSNI removed Union Flags and paramilitary flags from outside a Catholic church.[7]
Expected riots broke out on the 11th July, nationalist rioters attacked the PSNI in the Oldpark and Broadway areas of Belfast. The Royal Victoria Hospitals new £9 million extension was damaged. It is believed shots were fired.[8]
More expected rioting broke out the following day in nationalist areas of north and south Belfast following the annual Orange Order, 12th July parades. Trouble also broke out in Derry, where police claim people as young as ten were involved.The PSNI were criticised for the way they tackled the riots. [9][10] There was also unrest in Ballymena
On 13th July, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness spoke about how bad an image the riots were giving Northern Ireland and that everyone should sit down and respect each others views.. There was rioting in Portadown, Belfast, Derry, Newry and Larne. Two police vehicles were damaged in the Portadown riots. [11][12]
There was further disorder on July 14th. [13]
On July 15th, Police in Portadown came under attack with a riot involving around 100 people. [14] Immigrants were forced to flee Northern Ireland when their home came under attack by loyalists in a Catholic area [15]
In Corcraine, Portadown there was again unrest and rioting on July 16th.[16]