02:14Police used water cannons against dozens of protesters in Belfast on Thursday in the seventh consecutive night of unrest across Northern Ireland.
Clashes broke out in the Lanark Way and Springfield Road areas as police defended the perimeter of the 'peace line,' which was breached on previous nights. The 'peace line' divides predominantly unionist and nationalist communities.
Protesters set rubbish containers alight, and threw items including fireworks at the riot police, who attempted to keep opposing groups of protesters apart.
Protests were sparked after authorities decided not to prosecute the Sinn Fein party for their alleged violations of COVID measures at republican Bobby Storey's funeral last year.
A further reason for the unrest is the Northern Ireland Protocol aspect of the Brexit deal, which created a de-facto border in the Irish Sea, meaning goods entering the island of Ireland are subject to EU checks, an aspect of the deal which angered Unionists.
Local reports state around 50 police officers have been injured, and several arrests have been made in the last few days since the unrest began.
Earlier on Wednesday a bus was set on fire and missiles were thrown at police. Leader of the Democratic Unionist party and first minister, Arlene Foster, responded by condemning the events on Twitter.
"This is not protest. This is vandalism and attempted murder. These actions do not represent unionism or loyalism," she said.
Weeks prior the unionist paramilitary group Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) withdrew their support from the Good Friday Agreement which ended the Troubles arguing they will not re-join until their rights under the agreement are restored and the Brexit protocol amended to ensure unfettered access for goods, services and citizens throughout all of the United Kingdom.
UK: Water cannon deployed as Belfast unrest continues into 7th consecutive day
Police used water cannons against dozens of protesters in Belfast on Thursday in the seventh consecutive night of unrest across Northern Ireland.
Clashes broke out in the Lanark Way and Springfield Road areas as police defended the perimeter of the 'peace line,' which was breached on previous nights. The 'peace line' divides predominantly unionist and nationalist communities.
Protesters set rubbish containers alight, and threw items including fireworks at the riot police, who attempted to keep opposing groups of protesters apart.
Protests were sparked after authorities decided not to prosecute the Sinn Fein party for their alleged violations of COVID measures at republican Bobby Storey's funeral last year.
A further reason for the unrest is the Northern Ireland Protocol aspect of the Brexit deal, which created a de-facto border in the Irish Sea, meaning goods entering the island of Ireland are subject to EU checks, an aspect of the deal which angered Unionists.
Local reports state around 50 police officers have been injured, and several arrests have been made in the last few days since the unrest began.
Earlier on Wednesday a bus was set on fire and missiles were thrown at police. Leader of the Democratic Unionist party and first minister, Arlene Foster, responded by condemning the events on Twitter.
"This is not protest. This is vandalism and attempted murder. These actions do not represent unionism or loyalism," she said.
Weeks prior the unionist paramilitary group Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) withdrew their support from the Good Friday Agreement which ended the Troubles arguing they will not re-join until their rights under the agreement are restored and the Brexit protocol amended to ensure unfettered access for goods, services and citizens throughout all of the United Kingdom.
Police used water cannons against dozens of protesters in Belfast on Thursday in the seventh consecutive night of unrest across Northern Ireland.
Clashes broke out in the Lanark Way and Springfield Road areas as police defended the perimeter of the 'peace line,' which was breached on previous nights. The 'peace line' divides predominantly unionist and nationalist communities.
Protesters set rubbish containers alight, and threw items including fireworks at the riot police, who attempted to keep opposing groups of protesters apart.
Protests were sparked after authorities decided not to prosecute the Sinn Fein party for their alleged violations of COVID measures at republican Bobby Storey's funeral last year.
A further reason for the unrest is the Northern Ireland Protocol aspect of the Brexit deal, which created a de-facto border in the Irish Sea, meaning goods entering the island of Ireland are subject to EU checks, an aspect of the deal which angered Unionists.
Local reports state around 50 police officers have been injured, and several arrests have been made in the last few days since the unrest began.
Earlier on Wednesday a bus was set on fire and missiles were thrown at police. Leader of the Democratic Unionist party and first minister, Arlene Foster, responded by condemning the events on Twitter.
"This is not protest. This is vandalism and attempted murder. These actions do not represent unionism or loyalism," she said.
Weeks prior the unionist paramilitary group Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) withdrew their support from the Good Friday Agreement which ended the Troubles arguing they will not re-join until their rights under the agreement are restored and the Brexit protocol amended to ensure unfettered access for goods, services and citizens throughout all of the United Kingdom.