US President Joe Biden has arrived in Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland. Biden will pay a four-day visit to Northern Ireland and Ireland in honor of the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which ended the struggle between Catholics and Protestants in 1998. Biden was greeted by British Prime Minister Sunak.
It is currently unsettled in Northern Ireland and police fear possible attacks and violence. Earlier today, four “suspected pipe bombs” were found in a cemetery over a hundred kilometers from Belfast, police announced. Pipe bombs were also used in the past by the militant movements in Northern Ireland. Corps Chief Bobby Singleton called the find a “sinister and disturbing development”.
Police are linking the find to an attack in Londonderry yesterday (called Derry by Catholics). During an unannounced protest march by pro-Irish nationalists against the Good Friday Agreement, masked protesters threw Molotov cocktails at a police car, among other things. The attackers burned their clothes where pipe bombs were found, police said.
In another place, the police were shot again today. Two vehicles were damaged, but there were no injuries.
Threat level is ‘serious’
The British security service MI5 raised the threat level for domestic terrorism in Northern Ireland to “serious”two weeks ago. This means that an attack is”very likely”. By the way, the Security Service did not associate this with the celebration of the 25th anniversary of The Good Friday Agreement or Biden’s visit.