Marching season descends into violence in Northern Ireland
- 11 years ago
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Heightened tensions in Belfast, Northern Ireland on Friday as an annual protestant march descends into violence.
Protestant marchers threw bricks and bottles at police who responded with water cannon and rubber bullets.
Thousands of pro-British Protestants march every summer to mark a 1690 battle victory, a regular flashpoint for sectarian violence as Catholics, many of whom favour unification with Ireland, see the parades as a provocation.
Authorities said 32 police were injured, many suffering from head, eye and leg wounds.
Eleven people were arrested.
Although the 30 year 'troubles' between Protestants and Catholics were largely ended by a 1998 peace deal, much of Belfast remains divided along religious and nationalist lines.
Heightened tensions in Belfast, Northern Ireland on Friday as an annual protestant march descends into violence.
Protestant marchers threw bricks and bottles at police who responded with water cannon and rubber bullets.
Thousands of pro-British Protestants march every summer to mark a 1690 battle victory, a regular flashpoint for sectarian violence as Catholics, many of whom favour unification with Ireland, see the parades as a provocation.
Authorities said 32 police were injured, many suffering from head, eye and leg wounds.
Eleven people were arrested.
Although the 30 year 'troubles' between Protestants and Catholics were largely ended by a 1998 peace deal, much of Belfast remains divided along religious and nationalist lines.