Trouble flares on Eleventh Night after police warning of UVF plan to attack officers 

Q Radio News

Vehicles were hijacked and torched in Northern Ireland amid violence linked to traditional loyalist bonfires.

A suspected pipe bomb also detonated close to a police operation to clear a contentious fire site in Belfast while other security alerts prompted the closure of main roads, with one incident preventing newly-arrived passengers exiting Belfast City Airport.

Masked men also used burning cars to block roads close to the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald on the outskirts of Belfast, while a bus with passengers on board was hijacked before being set alight in nearby Newtownards.

Bus on fire in West Winds, Ards. @PSNIArdsNDown @Translink_NI @NIFRSOFFICIAL #WhyHurtYourOwnArea pic.twitter.com/UwNdwhGDu0

— Kellie Armstrong (@Kelmba) July 11, 2018

Wednesday's incidents unfolded amid a police warning that loyalist paramilitaries were planning to "orchestrate and participate in serious disorder" in east Belfast.

The violence came after loyalists expressed anger at moves to limit the size of bonfires at two controversial sites in the east of the city.

Hundreds of 'Eleventh Night' bonfires were lit at midnight across Northern Ireland as part of a loyalist tradition to mark the anniversary of the Protestant King William's victory over the Catholic King James at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.

The fires usher in the traditional Twelfth of July Orange parades in the region.

By 1am on Thursday, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) had received a total of 327 emergency calls, mobilised to 164 operational incidents - 57 of which were bonfire-related.

Fire officers said the figures represented a 23% increase on incidents attended last year, with the regional control centre at times handling an emergency 999 call every 48 seconds.

Fire appliances came under attack on three occasions, at Carn Hill in Londonderry, Moygashel near Dungannon and Ballycarry/Whitehead. No firefighters were injured.

While the majority of Eleventh Night fires in Northern Ireland pass off without incident each year, in recent times there have been community tensions in east Belfast over the size of the Bloomfield Walkway and Cluan Place pyres, with many residents fearful of potential damage to their properties.

Loyalists claimed they had taken steps to minimise risk to buildings this year and characterised attempts to restrict bonfires as attacks on their culture.

On Tuesday evening, a High Court judge in Belfast had ordered that the Bloomfield Walkway bonfire be reduced in height.

Police moved into the area in the early hours of Wednesday morning, but loyalist youths set the structure alight before any material could be seized.

The Cluan Place bonfire was toppled and cleared later on Wednesday, with police escorting masked contractors hired to do the job. During that operation a loud bang was heard in the area and the remnants of a pipe bomb were later recovered close by.

Mum of four Louise McCann says her children lucky to be alive after device thrown into Clandeboye Drive at Short Strand/Cluan Place interface this afternoon - “two seconds later they would have been killed.” More on air at 4 pic.twitter.com/hDNgGTOeum

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) July 11, 2018

Police said the threat from the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) in east Belfast was directed at officers.

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said on Wednesday night: "I would strongly urge people to desist from engaging in any violent or criminal behaviour.

"I would also appeal to those who have influence in this community to discourage people from taking part in any illegal activity.

"The safety of the public and my officers is of paramount importance and accordingly I will be reviewing my resourcing plans to ensure there is an appropriate and proportionate policing operation in place to deal with any disorder should it occur."

In Newtownards, Co Down, a bus carrying passengers was hijacked by masked men, who were believed to have been carrying firearms.

None of the passengers were injured in the incident which took place around 7.30pm on Wednesday.

The bus was hijacked in Blenheim Drive and later set on fire.

Police also attended the scene of nearby Messines Road which was blocked by burning tyres.

On the Upper Newtownards Road in Dundonald a number of masked males pushed a car into the road and set it on fire close to Robbs Road at around 9.45pm.

A further report was received that two cars were set on fire close to the nearby Carrowreagh Road. Both roads are close to the Ulster Hospital, which has a busy Accident and Emergency Department.

A PSNI spokesman said: "We would like to the thank the members of the public who are currently assisting us as we try to identify these individuals who appear determined to obstruct the road network, particularly so close to the Ulster Hospital's Accident and Emergency Department."

There were a number of other security alerts in the east of the city through the night.

One forced the closure of the Sydenham bypass dual carriageway, meaning passengers were unable to exit the adjacent Belfast City Airport for a period.

Another closed down a large section of the Newtownards Road - one of the main thoroughfares in the east of Belfast.