A double-decker bus was completely engulfed in flames after being bombed by rioters near Northern Ireland’s ‘peace wall’ – in the fourth night of violence that injured at least 55 cops, authorities said.
The wild video shared by The Sun shows the red bus slowly crawling through a street in Belfast late Wednesday while a crowd of black-clad young men stormed petrol bombs against it.
It was soon completely engulfed in flames, with large black plumes of smoke rising in the air – which later left only charred remains on the ground.
“It’s not a protest. It is vandalism and attempted murder, “said the prime minister. Arlene Foster tweeted along with footage of the bus attack, which it called ” an embarrassment to Northern Ireland ”.
The violence is being blamed for growing frustration over new trade barriers to Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
Gates have been set on fire on a “wall of peace” – which has separated pro-Irish nationalist and pro-British trade union communities since “the problems” began more than 50 years ago – while crowds throw petrol bombs at it.
Footage shows groups standing around fires on the wall in front of a sign that reads, “There has never been a good war or a bad peace.”
Hundreds of people gathered on either side of a gate in the wall and ‘committed serious criminal offenses, both attacking the police and attacking each other’, said the police service of Northern Ireland’s assistant chief Constable Jonathan Roberts.
At least seven officers were injured in Wednesday’s violence, which left a total of 55 injured during at least four nights this week, Roberts said.
“These are scenes we have not seen in Northern Ireland for a very long time. These are scenes that, according to many people, have been assigned according to history,” Irish Foreign Secretary Simon Coveney told national broadcaster RTE.
“It has to stop before someone is killed or seriously injured,” he said.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also said he was “concerned about the scenes of violence.”
“The way to resolve differences is through dialogue, not through violence or crime,” he tweeted.
Brexit has upset the political balance in Northern Ireland, where some identify themselves as British and want to remain part of the UK, while others see themselves as Irish and seek unity with the Republic of Ireland, an EU member. Each side blames the other for the current violence.
There is also anger that Sinn Fein politicians who attended the funeral of a former Irish Republican army last year have not been prosecuted for violating the coronavirus rules for mass gatherings.
Authorities accuse banned paramilitary groups of inciting young people to wreak havoc.
“We have seen young people engage in serious disorder and commit serious criminal offenses, and they have been supported and encouraged, and the actions have been organized by adults at certain times,” said Roberts, the senior police officer.
With Post threads