Attempt to remove New Lodge bonfire abandoned following violence

Police have pulled out of an operation to allow contractors to dismantle the anti-internment bonfire in north Belfast.

Youths threw missiles as the PSNI vehicles departed from the New Lodge at speed.

A large group of young people joined protesters already on top of the pyre.

Police were attacked after moving in to support contractors attempting to remove the anti-internment bonfire.

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Bricks, bottles and fireworks have been thrown at officers from some in the crowd gathered in the  area.

The stand-off escalated as a crowd charged at police lines, some throwing projectiles and some carrying pieces of metal fencing. 

Some officers fell as the fencing was pushed against them.

Footage posted to social media showed one officer collapsing as police with riot shields fended off demonstrators.

Two youths climbed to the top of the bonfire and refused to come down from the structure. 

"This bonfire means too much to me to get down. I'm not giving in to these ones," one of the pair shouted to onlookers below. 

One youth later came down despite some in the crowd urging him not to, shouting: "You'll get scooped".

Two more youths later climbed on top of the bonfire, bringing the number of people at the top to three. 

Locals claimed rioters had been seen throwing fireworks, bricks and bottles, with children, with one onlooker claiming children as young as ten were among the crowds clashing with police.

Members of the crowd at the foot of the bonfire urged one of those on top to get down. 

"You're only making things worse," one shouted. 

Refusing, he responded: "But then they're going to take the wood - that's what they're here for." 

A PSNI spokesman said in a statement that officers are in attendance at the scene at Queens Parade to support contractors who have been tasked by the landowner to remove a bonfire from the road.

"We are endeavouring to support the contractors to complete this task in a timely manner, with minimum disruption to the community," he said.

"We would ask for the community's patience and support as the area is made safe.

"We will not be making any further comment at this time as this is an ongoing operation."

The pyre, made of stacks of wooden pallets, sits near a small grassy hill surrounded by several blocks of flats. 

The land is owned by the Department for Infrastructure.

Beside the bonfire, menacing graffiti warned any contractors that a community centre will be targeted if any contractors remove the bonfire. 

Housing Executive work in the New Lodge area of north Belfast was suspended last week after youths ordered workers from the area.

Last week, the Irish News revealed that such is the lawlessness in the New Lodge that masked teenagers were playing a games console plugged into a street light, adding that they had petrol bombs at the ready.

Bonfires are lit in some nationalist areas to mark the anniversary of the introduction of internment in 1971, but the residents and elected representatives have mainly opposed such pyres, branding them "anti-social behaviour" and voicing safety concerns.

Mark Lindsay, chair of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, condemned attacks on officers.

He said: "Officers trying to protect the community and lawful agencies are once again caught in the middle and in the firing line.

"They are being attacked with a range of missiles and iron fencing. In one assault by a mob, one officer is seen to be struck and knocked to the ground.

"This behaviour is contrary to the overwhelming wishes of the people of New Lodge, who do not want this bonfire or their area hijacked by young thugs."

He said officers are acting with professionalism and restraint, and urged those orchestrating these "vicious and unacceptable" confrontations to pull back before people are seriously injured.

"These are ugly scenes reminiscent of the past and do not need to be repeated as communities work to build a better future. They are disgraceful and unacceptable.

"I know local community and political figures are trying to intervene to get order restored and, from our perspective, we hope they are successful.

"In the meantime, our officers will continue to do the job they are there to do."