Hain calls for community support in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain has called for community leaders to give their support to the police and “the forces of law and order”.
Speaking after a meeting with Sir Hugh Orde, chief constable, Mr Hain said he had been shown video footage of violence at the Whiterock parade and was “horrified” at seeing Orangemen attacking police.
Mr Hain agreed with Sir Hugh in assigning responsibility for the violence on the Orange Order.
“I think if leaders of the Orange Order actually saw the video I saw this morning . I think [they] would be as horrified as I was,” he said.
“Responsible community and political leaders must come foursquare behind the forces of law and order,” Mr Hain added.
Trouble flared on Saturday after the Orange Order Whiterock parade in west Belfast was re-routed following nationalist protests. Police arrested 15 suspects.
Loyalist paramilitaries the UVF and UDA have been accused of inciting violence and some have been criticised for adopting a shoot-to-kill policy on the 2,000 police and troops.
Sir Hugh described Saturday’s mayhem as “one of the most dangerous riot situations in UK history”.
He said the rioting and violence witnessed was “absolutely pre-planned” with loyalist paramilitaries intent on killing police.
He slammed the Orange Order for urging people to take to the streets and said the reaction of police officers to the unrest had been “professional, competent and proportionate” throughout.
The Orange Order, for its part, accused the police of adopting “a brutal and heavy-handed” approach.
To date, 32 police officers have been injured by rioters.
