Petrol bombs and different objects had been thrown at Northern Ireland police by plenty of masked individuals at a parade opposing the Good Friday peace accord, authorities mentioned Monday.
The assault on a police automobile within the metropolis of Londonderry comes a day earlier than U.S. President Joe Biden’s go to to Belfast.
A Reuters {photograph} confirmed 4 younger individuals within the primarily Irish nationalist space of Creggan throwing petrol bombs at an armored police automobile, which was coated in flames on one facet.
The crowd dispersed shortly afterward, and police mentioned no one was injured.
“What we saw develop this afternoon in Creggan was incredibly disheartening,” mentioned Derry City & Strabane Area Chief Superintendent Commander Nigel Goddard.
“This was a senseless and reckless attack on our officers who were in attendance in the area in order to comply with our legal duties,” he added.
He mentioned police have deployed evidence-gathering sources, and obtained footage which can now be reviewed as a part of an investigation into potential offenses underneath the Terrorism Act 2000.
Monday marked the twenty fifth anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement that largely ended three many years of sectarian bloodshed in Northern Ireland. There continues to be some sporadic violence by small teams against the accord.
Britain’s MI5 intelligence company late final month elevated the menace stage in Northern Ireland from home terrorism to extreme – which means an assault is very possible.
It has been largely within the second highest class since its introduction in 2010 and was raised after an off-duty police officer was left severely injured following a gun assault by the brand new IRA, one of many small dissident militant teams.
Biden is because of arrive in Belfast on Tuesday and make an handle at a Belfast college on Wednesday earlier than touring to Ireland for an additional three days.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
