NORTHERN Ireland’s Executive has issued a strong appeal for an end to violence on the streets after it was revealed that 55 police officers have been injured in six nights of rioting in the province.

Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said members of the Executive are "gravely concerned" about the violence and called for calm. Seven police officers were injured last night alone after serious sectarian trouble broke out on the Lanark Way interface between the loyalist and nationalist communities in Belfast. Horrific pictures of children involved in the violence have been shown around the world.   

After a night in which petrol bombs were thrown and a bus was set on fire, the statement, supported by Executive members from all parties, said: "Attacks on police officers, public services and communities are deplorable and they must stop. Destruction, violence and the threat of violence are completely unacceptable and unjustifiable, no matter what concerns may exist in communities."

The National:

PSNI officers and Land Rovers on the nationalist side of the Springfield Road in Belfast after dispersing people from the area

It added: "While our political positions are very different on many issues, we are all united in our support for law and order and we collectively state our support for policing and the police officers who have been putting themselves in harm's way to protect others."

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Brandon Lewis, flew to Belfast for urgent talks with the Executive which was only re-formed early last year after a period in abeyance when the two main parties, the DUP and Sinn Fein, could not agree to jointly govern the province.

READ MORE: Stormont Executive to meet after fifth night of violence in Northern Ireland

Lewis said: “All communities in Northern Ireland must work together to resolve the tensions that we are currently facing. The people of Northern Ireland deserve better than a continuation of the violence and disorder that we have witnessed in recent days. I know, from my ongoing contact with party leaders, that this is a view that is shared by all. The only way to resolve differences is through dialogue and in that regard we must all lead by example.

“Those engaged in this destruction and disorder do not represent Northern Ireland.

“I have seen first hand the true spirit of Northern Ireland - the creativity, the optimism and the determination to never return to the conflict and division of the past. We cannot allow that spirit to be crushed by a small minority intent on violence.”

A full meeting of the re-called Assembly is ongoing with the divisions between the parties plain for all to see – the Unionist parties are blaming Sinn Fein for sparking the trouble by attending the funeral of former IRA man turned peace promoter Bobby Storey in breach of coronavirus rules, with Sinn Fein saying the rules were followed, the Public Prosecutor declining to act against them.

In turn Sinn Fein say the violence started within the loyalist community where many people are angered at what they see as a betrayal by Prime Minister Boris Johnson over the Northern Ireland Protocol signed by the UK and European Union.

The National:

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Jonathan Roberts said in a statement this afternoon: "The scale of the disorder last night was at a scale that we have not seen in recent years in Belfast or further afield.

“The fact that it was sectarian violence and large groups on both sides is not something we have seen in recent years. We believe there was a level of pre-planning.

“The crowds grew in numbers and attacked each other with multiple petrol bombs and multiple missiles, including masonry and fireworks, and attacked police.

“The scenes we saw were disgraceful in terms of the seriousness of criminal acts that were being carried out and the violent disorder.

“We also saw a bus being hijacked, it was an extremely distressing incident for the bus driver and the people on the bus at the time.

“We had two other vehicles set on fire and pushed against the gates.

“It is very lucky that no-one was seriously injured given the large volume of petrol bombs that were thrown. Anyone who participates in such behaviour can expect to be arrested and remanded into custody and placed in front of the courts.

“I can’t confirm the involvement of paramilitaries but the orchestration of last night’s disorder and the previous nights is the subject of investigation.”