'Anti Internment' March Passes With 'Minor Trouble'

A republican 'anti-internment' rally passed through Belfast city centre yesterday with "minor trouble", the PSNI has said.

The march, which was to commemorate the introduction of interment without trial in Northern Ireland in 1971, began in north Belfast in the afternoon and passed along Royal Avenue; a main shopping street in the city centre.

A counter-protest organised by loyalists saw a number of missiles including plastic bottles and fireworks thrown at the procession, which included about 4,000 participants and a similar number of spectators.

Following the march, Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said: "Today's parade and associated protests passed off with minor trouble, with a number of fireworks and missiles thrown as the parade passed through Royal Avenue. One officer and one member of the public are reported to have each sustained a minor injury.

"There was a considerable policing operation put in place throughout the city centre today to ensure that the Parades Commission determinations in respect of the parade and the associated protests were upheld. Our focus was, as always, on keeping people safe."

"Police will now review all evidence gathered and pursue all relevant lines of inquiry relating to any offences or breaches of the Parades Commission determinations. Once the parade had passed through Royal Avenue, the area quickly returned to normal and all roads were reopened."

(IT/MH)