Q&A: Why is there rioting and disorder happening in loyalist areas of Northern Ireland?
A rundown of the main issues, the political reaction at Stormont and what to expect in the coming days
Sandy Row on Friday night (Image: Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye)
Want the biggest politics stories sent to you every week? Simply sign up here and we ll do the restInvalid EmailSomething went wrong, please try again later.
Subscribe
When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. OurPrivacy Noticeexplains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Violence has broken out on the streets of Northern Ireland again, despite appeals for calm.
A car was set alight in Sperrin Park in the Waterside area of Londonderry, while there were also reports of violent incidents in Carrickfergus, near Belfast on Monday night.
Both locations have been the scene of violence and unrest among the loyalist communities in recent days.
Former DUP MP Emma Little-Pengelly, now a special adviser to First Minister Arlene Foster, urged those involved in the incidents in Carrickfergus to stop.
She tweeted: “Emotions can run high and frustrations deep, but injury, arrest and prosecution will blight your life forever.
Members of the South East Antrim UDA warned business owners to shut their premises early or risk being attacked ahead of a weekend of carefully planned violence.
It is understood that members of the paramilitary group visited businesses in Newtownabbey and told them that a riot was going to take place and to close early. Police were made aware of the actions of the breakaway loyalist group.
Sources confirmed that senior officers have been “reaching out” to loyalists perceived to have influence to try and calm the situation, worried that violence may spread to other areas.
PSNI Chief Superintendent Davy Beck confirmed the attacks on police were “clearly orchestrated”, saying the recent arrests of alleged senior members of the South East Antrim UDA may form part of the reason for the reaction in the Newtownabbey area.