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2021 Northern Ireland riots

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2021 Northern Ireland riots
Part of post-Troubles violence
Date30 March – 9 April 2021[a]
Location
Northern Ireland, particularly Belfast, Derry, and Carrickfergus
Caused by
Methods
  • Rioting
  • Arson
  • Hijackings
Parties
Lead figures
Casualties and losses
Unknown
88 PSNI officers injured[3]

A series of riots in loyalist areas of Northern Ireland began in Waterside, Derry,[b] on 30 March 2021. After four nights of rioting in Derry,[4][5] disturbances spread to south Belfast on 2 April, where a loyalist protest developed into a riot involving iron bars, bricks, masonry and petrol bombs. Following this, civil unrest spread to Newtownabbey on 3 April, where cars were hijacked and burnt, and petrol bombs were also used against police.[6] Carrickfergus in southern County Antrim also saw serious civil unrest on the night of 4 April and morning of 5 April, where loyalists created roadblocks to keep police out of local estates and threw petrol bombs at police vehicles.[7]

Background

[edit]
Graffiti in Belfast opposing an "Irish Sea border" (February 2021)

The riots occurred within a background of tension within loyalism in Northern Ireland.[8]

Irish Sea border

[edit]

Loyalists and unionists argued that post-Brexit trading arrangements have created barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom, due to interference from the European Union.[8] The Loyalist Communities Council, which represents paramilitary groups including the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Ulster Defence Association withdrew their support for the Good Friday Agreement (which brought to an end The Troubles) until the sea border is removed.[9] A port worker in Larne was forced to relocate with his family after receiving a death threat from an unnamed loyalist paramilitary group.[10]

Bobby Storey funeral

[edit]

Tensions had also arisen earlier in the week after authorities decided not to prosecute 24 Sinn Féin politicians after they attended the funeral of former IRA head of intelligence Bobby Storey, which drew crowds of around 2,000 people,[11] who allegedly breached COVID-19 restrictions.[8] The main unionist parties, including First Minister Arlene Foster, called for the resignation of Simon Byrne, the chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), claiming he had lost the confidence of the community.[8][12] Foster had tweeted "Devastating outcome for public confidence in policing. There will be consequences".[12]

Social issues

[edit]

Other factors that contributed to the violence included the PSNI seizing illicit drugs from the South East Antrim UDA on several occasions, causing particular ill feeling towards the PSNI.[13] Youth workers said the closure of youth centres because of COVID-19 restrictions had contributed to the trouble.[14]

Riots

[edit]

Waterside, Derry

[edit]

The riots began in the unionist Tullyally estate.[15][5] Petrol bombs and masonry were the main weapons used by rioters there and in the predominantly unionist Rossdowney Road/Lincoln Court area.[16][17] Rioting took place outside a nursing home in Nelson Drive, which police said caused "untold fear and distress" to residents.[18][5] A digger was set alight as were pallets.[19][20] Disorder continued on 4 April when children as young as twelve were involved in attacking the PSNI with masonry, petrol bombs and fireworks with fire crews also being attacked.[21]

Twelve PSNI officers were wounded, receiving injuries to heads, legs or feet.[22][23]

On 5 April, a gang of around 20 youths were seen at the site of a burning car in Sperrin Park.[24][25]

Newtownabbey

[edit]

Rioting broke out in the loyalist O'Neill Road / Doagh Road area of Newtownabbey during the evening of 3 April.[26] The PSNI said 30 petrol bombs were thrown at police, and three vehicles were hijacked and set ablaze during the rioting.[27] Minor disturbances resumed on 4 April although to a lesser extent than the previous night.[6]

Carrickfergus, County Antrim

[edit]

On the night of 4 April, Ulster loyalists began to gather on the North Road area of Carrickfergus, setting fire to bins and laying them across the road.[28] When police arrived, items such as bricks and petrol bombs were used in an attempt by Ulster loyalists to injure police and keep them out of Carrickfergus estates.[29]

On 5 April, a crowd of young people gathered in the North Road area of the town and lit a fire in the middle of the road.[30] Witnesses said petrol bombs were thrown sporadically at police.[31]

On 7 April, occupants of houses in Cherry Walk and Glenfield Walk fled the area after windows were smashed and the home of a pensioner on Pinewood Avenue was attacked. Local sources said the targets were chosen on the basis of rumours about the occupants or people connected to them. The UVF ordered that Catholic families be removed from a housing estate – it has been called a "form of 21st century ethnic cleansing".[32]

Unauthorised parades

[edit]

On 5 April, unauthorised parades of loyalists, some wearing masks, took place in Portadown, Ballymena and Markethill.[33][34][35] The PSNI are investigating these parades as they appear not to have been notified to the Parades Commission.[36]

Following an unauthorised parade in Moygashel on 24 April, PSNI officers were struck with petrol bombs and masonry in loyalist disorder. [37]

Belfast

[edit]
Banner displayed in Sandy Row (March 2021)

Disturbances broke out in the Sandy Row area of south Belfast on 2 April.[38] Following a protest, a riot erupted and Ulster loyalists attacked the PSNI with bottles, bricks, petrol bombs and fireworks.[39] Eight people were arrested, including a 13-year-old boy. The PSNI said the ages of those arrested ranged from 13 to 25.[40]

On 7 April, a bus was hijacked by loyalist youths and set on fire at the junction of Lanark Way and Shankill Road in Belfast.[41][42][43] A Belfast Telegraph photographer was assaulted and his cameras damaged.[44] Rioters on each side of the peace line threw petrol bombs across it.[45][46]

On 8 April, rioters again gathered in West Belfast, throwing bricks, petrol bombs and projectiles at police on the nationalist Springfield Road area.[47] In response, police deployed water cannons for the first time in six years.[48][49][50] PSNI confirmed 19 officers and a police dog were injured.[51]

On 9 April, the last date of the riots, loyalist leaders urged the community not to participate in protests as a mark of respect following the death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and therefore a number of planned protests were postponed.[52][53][54] However, police were again attacked with stones and bottles in the loyalist Tiger's Bay and nationalist New Lodge areas of North Belfast and a car was set on fire.[55][56] PSNI confirmed 14 officers were injured.[57][58][59] In the majority unionist town Coleraine, masked teenagers built a road block and set it on fire. Petrol bombs were also thrown at police.[60]

Government response

[edit]

Police

[edit]

Chief Superintendent Darrin Jones, area commander for Derry city and Strabane area, condemned the riots and disorder as "totally unacceptable". He said in a statement:

A care home should be a place of sanctuary for some of the most vulnerable people in our society. I would speak directly to those who were rioting last night, how would you feel if your grandmother or grandfather was in this care home and subjected to this violence? This has been the fifth night of disorder in Derry/Londonderry, this is totally unacceptable. It is vital that we all send out a message to those responsible that such behaviour will not be tolerated. The people of Derry/Londonderry deserve to feel safe within their own homes and be able to walk the streets without fear. I would ask that anyone who has any influence in communities – whether parents, guardians, community or elected representatives – please, use that influence to ensure young people do not get caught up in criminality and that they are kept safe and away from harm."[61][4][5]

On 2 April 2021, Chief Superintendent Simon Walls, district commander for Belfast, said a "small local protest quickly developed into an attack on police".[62] The following day he said it was a "real tragedy" that children as young as 13 or 14 were among the arrested and "sitting in a custody suite this morning" and facing investigation and possible conviction.[63] Walls urged "people with influence try to ask anyone intent on violence to please step back" and "resolve tensions or arguments" peaceably.[64]

Chief Superintendent Davy Beck said on the afternoon of 5 April that police were ready for more violence, but urged community leaders to put a prevent a "third night of trouble in the Cloughfern and Newtownabbey/Carrickfergus area." Beck also said that he believed "a small group of disaffected criminal elements that are clearly involved in influencing young people" were responsible for the riots.[65]

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Jonathan Roberts described the violence on 7 April as the worst riot in Northern Ireland in years.[66]

Northern Ireland officials

[edit]

Stormont Justice Minister and Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said that the words used by political leaders "have consequences" and that the rioting "is in no-one's best interests – not the officers dealing with it and not the mostly young people risking their futures by engaging in it."[12] Long said that leaders must "behave responsibly and dial down the inflammatory rhetoric over recent days."[12]

First Minister Arlene Foster criticised the rioters, urging young people "not to get drawn into disorder" and said violence "will not make things better".[67] Foster also asked "parents to play their part and be proactive in protecting their young adults."[68]

Among Sinn Féin politicians, MP Paul Maskey said that young people were "being used by sinister elements" and held the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) responsible for stirring up tensions;[12] MLA Gerry Kelly (who is a member of the policing board in addition to an MLA) accused unionist leadership "in particular the DUP" of using rhetoric that incited violence.[69] MLA John O'Dowd condemned the unauthorised parade in Portadown, saying it was "led by masked men through the streets" and intended to intimidate the local community. Ulster Unionist Party MLA Doug Beattie said "everyone bears responsibility" for the violence.[69]

David Ramsey, a DUP councillor on the Derry City and Strabane District Council, said the riot was "so depressing" to witness and "I have worked with young people on the Waterside for many years. I have never seen anger like this".[4]

On 8 April 2021, Education Minister Peter Weir confirmed that in areas of heightened tension, youth facilities closed during lockdown could reopen to help divert young people from becoming involved in trouble.[14]

Reactions

[edit]

Following the riots, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and U.S. President Joe Biden condemned the violence, expressed concern, and urged calm.[70][71]

As a result of the violence, the European Union is set to postpone legal action it had initially taken against the United Kingdom for unilaterally extending waivers on checks on goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain.[72]

The South Belfast Ulster Political Research Group, connected to the UDA, was the first loyalist group to call for an end to the unrest on 8 April 2021. It said that "recent public disorder has deflected from the original issues that have caused such dismay and anger from within our community", and that politics rather than street disturbances was the way to resolve these issues.[73] The Loyalist Communities Council issued a statement 9 April 2021 stating that none of their associated groups have been involved either directly or indirectly in the violence witnessed in recent days. They said any actions taken by the Loyalist community should be entirely peaceful and called on the government to negotiate a new protocol that ensures there is no hard border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom, as well as no hard border on the island of Ireland.[74]

Translink announced precautionary diversions from 12 April following the arson attack on a bus the previous week.[75]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Sporadic protests have taken place after 9 April but they have largely died down in Belfast, Derry, and Carrickfergus.[1]
  2. ^ There is a longstanding Derry/Londonderry name dispute. This article follows the approach that Derry refers to the city and County Londonderry refers to the county (outside of organisations' names, which may follow their own approaches).

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "What's behind the renewed violence in Northern Ireland?". NBC News. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b "What is behind the violence in Northern Ireland?". BBC News. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  3. ^ Cross, Gareth; Rutherford, Adrian (10 April 2021). "Northern Ireland riots: 14 police officers injured and three 14-year-old boys arrested during Belfast disorder". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Twelve officers injured in Londonderry disorder". BBC News. 3 April 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d "Petrol bombs and masonry thrown at police in Derry". RTÉ News. 2 April 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Newtownabbey: Police attacked for second night in a row". BBC News. 4 April 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  7. ^ "'Sinister elements' getting younger people to attack PSNI". BBC News. 5 April 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d Blackall, Molly (3 April 2021). "Northern Ireland's first minister joins calls for calm after Belfast riots". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Loyalist group withdraws support for Good Friday Agreement". BBC News. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  10. ^ Hewitt, Ralph (31 March 2021). "Larne Port worker and family relocated after loyalist threat". Belfast Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  11. ^ Fox, Kara. "What's behind the recent violence in Northern Ireland?". CNN. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  12. ^ a b c d e McDermott, Stephen; Duffy, Rónán (3 April 2021). "Teenagers aged 13 and 14 among eight arrests during rioting in loyalist area of south Belfast". TheJournal.ie. Press Association. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  13. ^ Wilson, Sarah (5 April 2021). "Northern Ireland riots 2021: why has there been violence in Belfast, Carrickfergus and Derry?". National World. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Some youth services to resume in response to NI unrest". ITV News. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  15. ^ Kenny, Jordan (9 April 2021). "Timeline: How Northern Ireland's violence unfolded". BBC News. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  16. ^ Young, David (2 April 2021). "Police attacked during fourth night of Londonderry disorder". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  17. ^ "Fears mount of another night of violence in Northern Ireland". The Irish Times. 2 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  18. ^ McGovern, Eimear (3 April 2021). "Care home damaged and officers injured after fifth night of Derry rioting". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  19. ^ Ward, James (7 April 2021). "Violence breaks out in Northern Ireland again as bus hijacked and set on fire and press photographer attacked". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
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  31. ^ Black, Rebecca (5 April 2021). "Police attacked in further loyalist disturbances in North". BreakingNews.ie. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  32. ^ Lee, John (11 April 2021). "UVF orders removal of Catholic families from Carrickfergus housing estate in '21st century form of ethnic cleansing'". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  33. ^ Simpson, Claire (7 April 2021). "Illegal loyalist parade in Ballymena sparks riot, with more marches expected". The Irish News. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  34. ^ "Appeal for calm as 'masked loyalists parade through streets of Portadown'". Armaghi. 5 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
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  37. ^ Deeney, Niall (25 April 2021). "Officer injured after fresh trouble following un-notified parade". www.newsletter.co.uk. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  38. ^ "Appeal for calm after officers injured in Sandy Row riot". Police Service of Northern Ireland. 2 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  39. ^ "Sandy Row riot: Leaders appeal for calm after Belfast riot". BBC News. 2 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  40. ^ Smith, Ryan (3 April 2021). "Sandy Row riot sees boys as young as 13 and 14 arrested". Belfast Live. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  41. ^ "Widespread condemnation after bus hijacked and set on fire in Belfast". Press Association.
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  43. ^ "Belfast protesters set fire to hijacked bus as violence continues". Aljazeera.com. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  44. ^ Cross, Gareth (8 April 2021). "Attack on Belfast Telegraph photographer Kevin Scott condemned". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  45. ^ "Boris Johnson condemns Belfast violence after petrol bomb thrown onto bus". The Telegraph. 7 April 2021.
  46. ^ McDermott, Stephen; Duffy, Rónán (5 April 2021). "Peace wall violence in Belfast 'at a scale we have not seen in recent years'". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  47. ^ Harte, Lauren (9 April 2021). "Northern Ireland riots: Youths clash with police in second night of trouble in west Belfast". Belfast Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  48. ^ Leebody, Christopher (9 April 2021). "Water cannon used in Northern Ireland for first time in six years". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  49. ^ "Water cannon deployed during rioting in Belfast". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  50. ^ Dwyer, Orla (9 April 2021). "Police blast rioters with water cannon as violence flares again in Northern Ireland". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  51. ^ Leebody, Christopher. "Northern Ireland riots: Police dog injured along with 19 officers, as MLA questions PSNI tactics in Belfast disorder". Belfast Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  52. ^ Scott, Sarah (9 April 2021). "Belfast riots: Calls for planned protests to be cancelled in wake of Prince Philip's death". Belfast Live. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  53. ^ Ward, James (10 April 2021). "Pockets of unrest flare up in North despite call for calm after royal death". BreakingNews.ie. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  54. ^ "North: Teenagers arrested as number of PSNI officers injured in unrest reaches 88". The Irish Times. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  55. ^ "PSNI attacked and car set ablaze in loyalist Tiger's Bay area of Belfast". The Irish Times. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  56. ^ Cross, Gareth (10 April 2021). "Northern Ireland riots: Disorder enters eighth night as police attacked in Belfast". Belfast Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  57. ^ "14 officers injured in latest Belfast disorder". Police Service of Northern Ireland. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  58. ^ "NI riots: Fourteen more police officers injured in night of violence". BBC News. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  59. ^ "14 PSNI officers injured in violent protests". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  60. ^ Kenny, Jordan (12 April 2021). "Timeline: How Northern Ireland's violence unfolded". BBC News.
  61. ^ "Update on Derry/Londonderry disorder". Police Service of Northern Ireland. 3 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  62. ^ "Update on Belfast disorder". Police Service of Northern Ireland. 3 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  63. ^ Devane, Michelle (3 April 2021). "Eight arrested and 15 officers injured after Belfast riot". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  64. ^ Moloney, Marita (3 April 2021). "Eight police officers injured following riots in south Belfast". Newstalk. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  65. ^ Claire Simpson (6 April 2021). "Heavy police patrols after third consecutive night of 'senseless and reckless' violence". Irish News.
  66. ^ "Belfast: Rioting 'was worst seen in Northern Ireland in years'". BBC News. 8 April 2021.
  67. ^ Blackall, Molly (3 April 2021). "Northern Ireland's first minister joins calls for calm after Belfast riots". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  68. ^ Devane, Michelle (3 April 2021). "Stormont First Minister appeals for calm following Belfast rioting". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  69. ^ a b "'Sinister elements' getting younger people to attack PSNI". BBC News. 5 April 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  70. ^ O'Carroll, Lisa; Carroll, Rory; Syal, Rajeev (8 April 2021). "White House expresses concern over Northern Ireland violence". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  71. ^ Leahy, Pat; Suzanne, Lynch; Hutton, Brian (8 April 2021). "Taoiseach, Boris Johnson and Joe Biden urge calm following Northern Ireland riots". The Irish Times. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  72. ^ Nardelli, Alberto (9 April 2021). "EU to Delay Brexit Legal Action Amid Northern Ireland Violence". Bloomberg.
  73. ^ Morris, Allison (8 April 2021). "South Belfast UPRG becomes first loyalist group to call for an end to unrest". Belfast Telegraph.
  74. ^ Scott, Sarah (9 April 2021). "Belfast riots: Loyalist Communities Council issue statement after days of violence". Belfast Live.
  75. ^ Preston, Allan (13 April 2021). "Translink announce 'precautionary' diversions to services over safety concerns". Belfast Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
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