Olympic Torch Disrupted in Londonderry

A protest in Londonderry disrupted the Olympic torch relay yesterday, causing the route to be slightly changed.

One man was arrested charged with assault on police and disorderly behaviour after minor scuffles.

About 100 people had gathered for a dissident republican protest against police searches.

Nobody was injured.

The torch had to take a detour of about 100 yards before crossing the Peace Bridge, which was built to symbolise a shared future between nationalists and unionists in the city.

Police pushed people back during the scuffle, many of whom were children.

The disruption came after a security alert at the weekend, when an explosive was thrown at police.

It was the first time the torch relay was disrupted since arriving in the UK.

Mark Durkan, SDLP MLA for Foyle, said the re-route was "embarrassing".

He said the occasion had been "marred by the actions of a tiny minority".

And Gregory Campbell, DUP MP for East Londonderry, expressed concern that the incident could threaten next year’s UK City of Culture celebrations.

He said: "It is clear [protestors] are not going to be reasoned with, therefore the response from within their own community must now be swift and unequivocal and the security response to dealing with their efforts will need to be reviewed."

The weather-proof gas torch arrived in Northern Ireland on Sunday and went up the north coast to Londonderry, visiting tourist spots the Giants Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge along the way.

Today it travels from the north-west south through Enniskillen, Armagh, Portadown and east to Newry before it visits Dublin tomorrow.

(NE)