Clean-up begins after cars torched and officers attacked at Belfast bonfire site
A clean-up operation has been undertaken after disorder in a number of nationalist areas in Belfast saw a building and cars torched and police officers attacked.
The trouble flared in the Markets area on Monday afternoon and later spread to the Divis neighbourhood on the other side of the city.
The removal of wood from a Markets bonfire site by council-hired contractors is understood to have been the trigger for the disorder.
Tensions have been raised in some loyalist and nationalist areas in Belfast this summer amid efforts by the council to take action against a number of unregulated fires.
Bonfires will be lit in some nationalist/republican areas on Tuesday night to mark the anniversary of the introduction of the controversial state policy of internment without trial.
Masked youths ran amok in the Markets, which is close to the city centre, after the council operation to remove the wood early on Monday morning.
The disturbances saw officers targeted with petrol bombs, bricks and bottles while a number of cars were destroyed. Many were owned by commuters.
The incidents centred in the Stewart Street and Friendly Street areas of the predominantly nationalist neighbourhood.
The shells of three burned-out cars were still on Stewart Street on Tuesday morning, with commuters continuing to park on the street despite the visible signs of violence.
The trouble in the Divis area of the Lower Falls Road centred on the Ross Road area.
A derelict credit union building was set alight during the disturbances.
There were also reports of attempts having been made to hijack vehicles in the area.
On Monday night, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) tweeted: "Police urge for calm to remain after dealing with some localised disorder in Belfast tonight incl blaze at disused building in Divis.
"Thanks to all those in affected communities who helped settle tensions. People living there do not want this type of behaviour."
The disorder was heavily condemned by local politicians.
Sinn Fein councillor for the Markets area Deirdre Hargey said: "The damage to cars in Stewart Street is unacceptable and I condemn those responsible in the strongest possible way.
"Both commuters and residents have been affected. Cars have been smashed with stones and several have been set alight. It is nothing short of mindless vandalism."
Ms Hargey said there had been other incidents of vandalism over the weekend.
"There is no defending this behaviour at all and it needs to stop now," she said.
"I'm asking all parents to take responsibility for their children and know where they are at all times.
"The community does not want this type of behaviour and it's not representative of the people of this area."
SDLP councillor Tim Attwood tweeted: "Outrageous old credit union building torched in Divis - no place for mindless thugs destroying our community."
Democratic Unionist former minister Paul Givan tweeted:
"Senseless acts of vandalism that endanger communities and damage services.
"Thinking of police and fire crews dealing with these incidents."
