29 officers injured by rioters as republican bonfire removed

The range of injuries included concussion, back and neck damage, after they came under “sustained and violent attack” at Distillery Street on Saturday.

Rioters threw petrol bombs and bricks at police units protecting contractors tasked with removing the bonfire material.

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan said bonfire material had been removed from several sites in recent weeks with “very little disturbance”.

He said: “Communities made it very clear they do not want and do not support internment bonfires in their areas.”

ACC McEwan said: “The disgraceful attack that we saw on our officers, who were simply doing their job, trying to support our partners in the community and ensuring that we kept people safe.

“If anyone has any information around these attacks or the people who were involved, I would ask you to come forward to us using 101 or the confidential telephone line.”

He added that police will work with the community in the coming days to identify those involved and make arrests, but said there has been a “huge reduction” in bonfire activity in the area compared to previous years.

“We will seek to make arrests very soon. Evidence-gathering tactics were deployed yesterday and we will identify people involved and bring them to justice,” ACC McEwan added.

Justice Minister Naomi Long also condemned the violence as “utterly intolerable”.

“My thoughts are with those who have been injured,” she said.

“I have spoken to the chief constable to express my concern for his officers and to thank him for PSNI’s role over the weekend in protecting public safety and ensuring the safety of contractors,” Mrs Long added.

Police Federation chairman Mark Lindsay described the violence as “reckless and irresponsible”.

Mr Lindsay said: “Once again, police officers have been drawn into the middle of a row over what should or shouldn’t take place. They are sick of being a punchbag for a society that has failed to tackle contentious issues.

“The attacks were premeditated. Petrol bombs and chunks of masonry don’t materialise out of thin air. These confrontations were planned. Those behind this reckless and irresponsible action had a very clear aim of making officers bear the brunt of their hate.”

Mr Lindsay added: “What happened posed real risks to the lives of officers. Petrol bombing is a clear attempt to murder or maim officers who were there to uphold the law.

“My thoughts are with the injured officers and their colleagues who once again demonstrated great professionalism and courage in confronting mindless rioters who achieve nothing but misery and distress for residents in affected areas.”

First Minister Arlene Foster said the scenes of disorder were “disgraceful”.

In a Twitter message, Mrs Foster said: “Our thoughts are with the injured officers. Disgraceful scenes. Important to see prosecutions in due course. A message must be sent that this is not acceptable.”