Violence broke out again in the streets of Northern Ireland, despite calls for calm.
A car was set on fire in Sperrin Park in the Waterside area of Derry, while there were also reports of violent incidents in Carrickfergus near Belfast. Both places have lately been the scene of violence and unrest among the loyalist community.
The Northern Ireland Police Service (PSNI) has earlier called on community leaders to stop the disorder that has taken place over the past week.
On Sunday night, five police officers sustained injuries after being bombed with petrol bombs and masonry in Belfast, bringing the total number of police injured in incidents in Derry and Belfast to 32 during the Easter weekend.
During last week, tensions in predominantly union communities turned into violent incidents, with petrol bombs being thrown at PSNI officers and trash cans and pallets being set on fire.
PSNI Ch Supt Davy Beck said on Monday that the police are ready for another night of unrest, but insist that community leaders put an end to it.
He said: ‘At the moment, as we speak, my officers are in those areas, they are working hard to provide those police services. It is with regard to crime, whether it is in terms of traffic safety, as far as others in the community are concerned.
“We are there and we do it. I will have additional resources at my disposal and we will respond to anything that may develop.
“But there is an opportunity to stop it. It does not have to be a third night of trouble in the Cloughfern and Newtownabbey / Carrickfergus area. I want to encourage people with influence in those communities to stop it. ”
Ch Supt Davy said the attacks were “clearly orchestrated”. He added: ‘I believe that there is a small group of disgruntled criminal elements who are clearly involved in influencing young people, and I will appeal to young people in these areas not to let that happen.
‘I think it’s also fair to say that it’s probably not coincidental. We have been successful in the field with regard to some of these criminal gangs. So I think that might have been a reaction from some people involved in crime. ‘
Asked if he thought the South Antrim UDA was behind the attacks, he replied: “Like I said, I believe it is a group of disgruntled criminal gangs and we will investigate.”
Monday night, a masked loyalist band marched through the streets of Portadown, playing drums and flutes and waving flags. John O’Dowd, MLA of Sinn Féin, condemned the march, which he said was intended to intimidate the local community.
A similar march took place in Markethill on Monday. This raises questions as to whether the Parades Commission has been notified of these events, as required by law.
Children up to 12 years old were involved in some incidents that took place over the weekend, police said.
Tensions have risen in the loyalist community over the past few months over post-Brexit trade arrangements, which have reportedly created barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
Anger escalated further last week following a controversial decision not to prosecute 24 Sinn Féin politicians for attending a large-scale Republican funeral during Covid-19 restrictions.
All the major trade union parties have demanded the resignation of PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne, claiming that he has lost the trust of their community.
Meanwhile, a recent series of drug attacks in the Anostim province of Antrim – an apostate faction of the main group – in County Antrim have caused particularly bad feelings for the police. The faction was apparently behind the riot in Newtownabbey on Saturday.