Many pro-British citizens are vehemently opposed to the new trade barrier introduced between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom as part of Britain’s departure from the European Union. Political leaders, including the British minister of Northern Ireland, had called for calm on Saturday. But on the outskirts of the Northern Irish capital Belfast, police witnessed riots.
A video posted by the police on Twitter showed four masked people throwing petrol bombs at an armoured police bus. They also hit and kicked the vehicle.
On Friday, 15 police officers were injured when rioters attacked them in another part of Belfast with stones, metal rods, fireworks and manhole covers. Police officers suffered burns and head injuries among other things. Seven people were arrested, two of them were 13 and 14 years old.
In Londonderry, 12 officers were injured on Friday. It was restless there for the fifth consecutive night.