Northern Ireland rioters clash with police in night of violence

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During another night of violence in Belfast, rioters threw petrol bombs, fireworks and stones at the police as the clashes continue.

Crowds rioted from both sides of a barrier between loyalist and nationalist areas the Northern Irish capital, driven to violence over Brexit and domestic politics.

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Nationalist and unionist communities in Belfast are often separated by towering "peace walls" to guard against projectiles.

On Thursday night, hundreds of boys and young men gathered from early evening, masked and in hooded tops, as they hurled rocks, bricks, and glass bottles at police barricades where riot officers formed ranks with armoured Land Rovers.

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Violence began last week with youths attacking property and police. /AFP

Anger has been sparked by the post-Brexit Irish Sea border and COVID-19 regulations. /AFP

A total of 74 police officers have been injured. /AFP

Once again rioters used petrol bombs and fireworks against the police. /AFP

There are fears that the clashes will reignite old tensions between loyalists and unionists. /AFP

The unrest began last week in the pro-UK unionist community, where tensions grew due to the new post-Brexit rules that some feel are dividing the region from Britain.

However, the pro-Ireland nationalist community has begun to respond in similar scenes.

The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Ireland's Taoiseach Micheal Martin and U.S. President Joe Biden have all called for calm, along with leaders from both sides of the divide in Northern Ireland.

Source(s): AFP

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