Proseguono disordini a Derry dopo la parata degli Apprentice Boys

Vehicles hijacked Apprentice Boys’ parade

Three vehicles have been hijacked and petrol bombs have been thrown at police in Londonderry after the city’s annual Apprentice Boys’ Parade.

A mother and her daughter were dragged from their car near Creggan Street after violence broke out on Saturday.

A car was set alight in Fahan Street and a van was hijacked on Lecky Road.

Petrol bombs were thrown at the Memorial Hall. A pipe bomb thrown at police exploded at Free Derry Corner.

The police have issued a warning to drivers, especially of commercial vehicles, to avoid these areas and remain vigilant.

About 12,500 people travelled to the city for the annual Apprentice Boys’ parade.

One hundred-and-forty bands marched through the city centre, amid tight security. The parade was the culmination of this year’s week-long Maiden City Festival.

Dissident republicans staged protests against the loyal order demonstration throughout the day. Minor disorder broke out on Shipquay Street when a number of police officers were pushed and kicked.

Earlier in the day another van was attacked on Madamsbank Road in the Shantallow area of the city.

Four masked men threw petrol bombs into the post office van and ran off. The blaze was put out by firefighters.

Police have received reports of other attempted hijackings in Derry and have urged motorists to be vigilant.

The trouble followed an attack on the the Apprentice Boys’ Memorial Hall on Friday night. Several dozen petrol bombs were thrown in the direction of the building from the Bogside, according to police.

The first of the day’s parades took place on Saturday morning without incident. Local Apprentice Boys completed a circuit of the city’s walls ahead of the main parade.

Speaking before the trouble the Governor of the Apprentice Boys, Jim Brownlee, said he hoped the protests planned by republicans would not disrupt the day.

“We respect that right to protest and we hope those protests are peaceful, and we hope the two events, both ourselves – in terms of the parade – and those protests, can pass off peacefully and everybody can get on with their business,” he said.

Meanwhile, a contentious feeder parade passed off without incident in north Belfast on Saturday morning.

A number of protesters held placards as the Apprentice Boys passed the Ardoyne shops amid tight security.

Photo: Marc Mallett, Utv