Tonight, Wednesday April 7th, Loyalists carried out an orchestrated and sustained attack in both their own community and then nationalist areas in Belfast.

A bus was hijacked by masked youths who were being instructed by older members of their community. During this hijacking a young girl was hit with a petrol bomb. The mob then made their way to Lanark Way interface where steel gates are locked separating the nationalist and loyalist communities. From here nationalist homes were attacked with bricks, bottles and fireworks.

The gates were forced open by loyalists giving themselves a free shot at attacking nationalists. The Crown forces sat back and watched this happen and did nothing to prevent these attacks on people and homes.

Sinn Féin Poblachtach activists were on the ground offering support to the community and helping as best they could, unfortunately we also witnessed a number of young people having to be taken to hospital with injuries caused by objects thrown from the Shankhill.

Once again the RUC/PSNI have shown their true colours allowing the loyalist community to run amok and cause havoc. Not so long ago during Republican riots due to Crown Forces invasions of Republican communities plastic bullets and water Canons were used. Then again the crown forces won’t use such force on loyalist rioters as half of them are probably uncles and nephews to them.

Sinn Féin Poblachtach will be on the ground in the coming days to help anyone affected by these acts of sectarianism and to offer support.

Críoch

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