POLICE have arrested five men as part of an investigation after trouble broke out during an unnotified republican parade in Derry.
The arrests came after searches at Junior McDaid House in Chamberlain Street, which houses an office used by anti-agreement republican party Saoradh.
Police said five men, aged 29, 31, 42, 45 and 50, were arrested and items seized “by police investigating an illegal parade and violent disorder in Derry on Easter Monday”.
Four of the men were said to have been held in the vicinity of Chamberlain Street while the fifth was detained at Eastway in the Creggan area.
Petrol bombs and other missiles were thrown at police by youths during a parade in the Creggan area of the city on Monday, which included a 16-strong masked 'colour party' and several hundred marchers.
Those taking part later made their way to the city cemetery for a short ceremony.
Chief Inspector Paul McCracken said: "Immediately after the parade and the attack on local police officers on Monday, we had said that robust action would be taken against those who orchestrated the violence and those who participated.
“These searches and arrests are the first phase of that action and more will follow in coming days.
“Those who seek to attack police and bring violence onto the streets can expect to be held accountable for their actions."
Nationalist and unionist political representatives condemned the violence.
In a statement, Saoradh representative Paddy Gallagher last night said: "Tactics such as this by the British war machine in Ireland has failed in the past and they will continue to fail today."
The party also claimed that a Facebook page associated with Junior McDaid House was removed as the police raid was being carried out.
