Six charged over Belfast rioting
Six people have been charged in connection with the serious disorder which broke out during loyalist protests against an anti-internment rally in Belfast on Friday night.
Fifty-six PSNI officers were injured after violence flared in the city centre where hundreds of loyalist protestors had gathered ahead of the republican rally.
Sporadic violence also broke out in the Peter’s Hill area where a 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of riot and hijacking.
He has been charged with riotous assembly and was released on bail pending further enquiries in connection with the hijacking incident.
Meanwhile two men, aged 35 and 37, have been charged with riotous behaviour, obstructing police and resisting police.
A 28-year-old man has been charged with riotous assembly, obstructing police and resisting police.
All four are expected to appear before Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
Elsewhere, a 57-year-old man has been charged with disorderly behaviour, assault on police and resisting police.
A 23-year-old man is accused of disorderly behaviour, obstructing police, two counts of resisting police and possessing a class A controlled drug.
Both men are expected to appear before Belfast Magistrates’ Court next month.
A seventh man, aged 37, has been released on police bail pending further inquiries.
On Saturday PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott described the rioting as “mindless anarchy”.
