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17/07/2001
SECRETARY OF STATE CALLS FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS TO TALK
SECRETARY of State Dr John Reid has called on residents to stand up against “sectarian hooligans” as violence took a turn for the worse on another successive night with several reports of gunmen taking to the streets of East Belfast.
Dr Reid relayed his blunt message as he spoke to officers involved in policing the recent violence. During a visit to Tennent Street police station, Dr Reid urged community leaders, politicians, churchmen and “anyone with influence to talk to each other urgently to bring peace back to the streets”.
He added: “Don’t let yourself be used by those who want to stir up violence. Don’t let your communities be dragged down by sectarian hooligans.”
Monday night’s violence erupted in the Short Strand area of east Belfast with police investigating reports of shots being fired. Meanwhile, in Lurgan a gunman threatened fire fighters attending a blaze on a railway embankment.
Residents in north Belfast also endured another night of sectarian hatred as gangs of youths battled across several interface areas. Loyalist and nationalists began stone throwing late in the afternoon on the Limestone Road. Both sides blamed each other for starting the trouble. (MB)
Dr Reid relayed his blunt message as he spoke to officers involved in policing the recent violence. During a visit to Tennent Street police station, Dr Reid urged community leaders, politicians, churchmen and “anyone with influence to talk to each other urgently to bring peace back to the streets”.
He added: “Don’t let yourself be used by those who want to stir up violence. Don’t let your communities be dragged down by sectarian hooligans.”
Monday night’s violence erupted in the Short Strand area of east Belfast with police investigating reports of shots being fired. Meanwhile, in Lurgan a gunman threatened fire fighters attending a blaze on a railway embankment.
Residents in north Belfast also endured another night of sectarian hatred as gangs of youths battled across several interface areas. Loyalist and nationalists began stone throwing late in the afternoon on the Limestone Road. Both sides blamed each other for starting the trouble. (MB)
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