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Union flags burnt on anti-internment bonfires

Teenagers pose with guns at the anti-internment bonfire in Beechmount in west Belfast.
Teenagers pose with guns at the anti-internment bonfire in Beechmount in west Belfast. Teenagers pose with guns at the anti-internment bonfire in Beechmount in west Belfast.

Young people posing with what appear to be guns, union flags being burnt and confrontations between youths and police marked anti-internment bonfires across Belfast at the weekend.

Bonfires were lit on Saturday evening to commemorate the anniversary of the introduction of internment in 1971.

The Alliance Party condemned the appearance of unionist symbols, including union flags and Royal British Legion poppy flags, on a bonfire in the Short Strand.

Councillor Michael Long said: "It is utterly disrespectful to burn any national flag on a bonfire. It is a hate-filled crime which does nothing but seek to promote division."

"Alliance believes people should be free to celebrate their culture in a respectful manner but placing Union and other flags on a bonfire is clearly not respectful."

Sinn Féin, which opposes anti-internment bonfires, condemned the scenes in the Short Strand.

Councillor Niall O’Donnghaile said: "The Short Strand community, like progressive republican areas across Belfast, moved away from August bonfires many years ago."

"Those determined to bring antisocial activity to the homes of our neighbours neither respect, understand or even care about the anniversary of internment and the massive impact it had on the people of this area."

He added: "The aim of those behind this bonfire, as has been shown in recent years, is to bring death-driving, underage drinking and anti-community activity to the heart of this small area."

At other bonfires across the city, youths were seen confronting police officers in the New Lodge area of north Belfast.

In Beechmount in west Belfast, two masked teenagers posed at a bonfire with what appeared to be guns.

In the Divis area, footage on social media showed a stolen car being driven erratically and later set alight as a large crowd watched on.

A youth was also seen throwing objects at a police landrover and verbally abusing police at the Westlink following the Divis bonfire.

Social media sites supporting anti-internment bonfires also placed photographs showing individuals who they claimed had removed bonfire material.

A police spokesman said there were no arrests made at anti-internment bonfires.