News

Loyalist group threatens PSNI and Parades Commission

Three members of an unnamed loyalist group in a photograph released to the media yesterday
Three members of an unnamed loyalist group in a photograph released to the media yesterday Three members of an unnamed loyalist group in a photograph released to the media yesterday

LOYALIST threats issued against police and the Parades Commission have been branded "sickening and deplorable".

Detectives are investigating after an unnamed group yesterday released a statement.

Two pictures were also issued to the media showing three masked men in paramilitary-style clothing sitting at a table with what appeared to be two handguns and two assault rifles.

In the statement, the loyalists criticised police for firing five plastic baton rounds during riots at the interface between Ardoyne and Twaddell in north Belfast.

"After today's brutal assault upon the PUL (Protestant, Unionist, Loyalist) community and the random firing of baton rounds aimed to seriously injure our people we are left with no other option but to announce the PSNI and Parades Commission are legitimate targets.

"We do not want to take this course of action but our people have suffered enough over the last few years and we as disengaged and disgruntled loyalists feel like the time has come for us to take action."

Police said they were investigating the photographs and statement.

Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Martin said: “Threatening the lives of serving police officers, staff and members of the Parades Commission for simply doing their jobs is sickening and deplorable.

“Threats against police or any other body, have to be completely rejected and condemned by society and I am sure that the vast majority of people will stand with us and roundly denounce these vile threats and the individuals who made them.”

The Irish News reported last month that hardline loyalists in the Antrim/Mid Ulster area had threatened to attack members of the Parades Commission in the run-up to the Twelfth.

Commission members were understood to have been warned to increase their police security.