Eight injured during Belfast City Hall violence - BBC News

4 December 2012 Last updated at 01:38 ET

The street behind Belfast City Hall filled with smoke as police came under attack

Five police officers and two security guards have been injured during rioting at Belfast City Hall on Monday night.

It followed the passing of a vote to change the council's policy of flying the Union flag all year round at the building.

A loyalist protest outside the building erupted into violence minutes after the vote was passed. A press photographer was also hurt.

Disorder also broke out in east Belfast.

A crowd attacked officers with bottles and bricks in the Albertbridge Road and Templemore Avenue areas.

First Minister Peter Robinson condemned the violence but said the decision to remove the flag was "provocative".

'Damaged relations'

In a statement, the DUP leader said: "There is no excuse or justification for attacks on police officers, council staff, and property."

Belfast City Council votes to change its Union flag policy, minutes before violence erupts

However, Mr Robinson added: "The decision to pursue the removal of the flag from city hall and other council buildings, despite warnings of the likely consequential impact on community relations, was foolish and provocative.

"Those who talk most about building community relations have by their actions in the council substantially damaged relations across the city."

However, Alliance councillor Marie Hendron hailed the vote as a "historic night for Belfast".

"For the first time in their history both Sinn Fein and the SDLP have voted in support of the Union flag.

"This proves in a practical way that they acknowledge the constitutional position of Northern Ireland," Ms Hendron said.

Cultural identity

Nationalists had wanted the Union flag taken down altogether but in the end voted on a compromise from the Alliance party that it would fly on designated days.

The vote was passed by 29 to 21 - with unionists accusing the Sinn Fein, the SDLP and Alliance of attacking their cultural identity.

The council had to adjourn for half an hour when loyalists stormed Belfast City Hall's courtyard and came close to breaking into the building.

The DUP has asked that the union flag be allowed to be flown every day from the cenotaph in the grounds of the building.

The proposal is being considered and requires the Alliance party to support it.

Of the five police officers who were injured in Monday night's violence, two policewomen were treated in hospital with injuries that were not believed to be life threatening.

Some of the protesters who had gathered outside the city hall used metal barriers, bottles and golf balls to attack the PSNI, who maintained a heavy presence in the area.

Windows were also smashed on a number of cars parked within the courtyard, including a vehicle belonging to a DUP councillor.

A PSNI spokeswoman said they had deployed additional resources to deal with public disorder in both central and east Belfast.

There was an attempt to hijack a bus on the Albertbridge Road, and there were reports that St Matthew's Catholic Church on the lower Newtownards Road came under attack.