Three arrests after city flag protests
Three arrests have been made in east Belfast following loyalist flag protests in the city.
Three males have been detained on Saturday and are currently in custody assisting police enquiries following a flag protest in east Belfast.
A 30-year-old man was arrested on the lower Newtownards Road on suspicion of disorderly behaviour and provocative conduct.
Two teenagers, aged 15 and 18 have been arrested on suspicion of riotous assembly on the Albertbridge Road.
The demonstration has now ended and all roads have been reopened to traffic.
Meanwhile police say a flag protest has passed without incident in Carrickfergus.
The demonstrations follow a peaceful protest at Belfast City Hall amid a heavy police presence.
Several groups of protestors made their way to the city centre for the seventh week running since the flag dispute began.
Police land rovers lined the area surrounding the civic building as up to 600 loyalists protested against a City Council decision to restrict the number of days the Union flag flies over city hall to 18 designated days.
Translink says Metro services in east Belfast have now resumed after they were suspended for a time due to the demonstration, but many are running with diversions in place.
The 3A and 20 services services will operate via Oxford Street and Albertbridge Road as the lower Newtownards Road is currently closed.
PSNI say the area around city centre and City Hall has now re-opened to traffic after it was blocked off during the demonstration.
Metro services have returned to normal departure points in the city centre.
Sunday will see the Union flag fly at City Hall on one of the designated days to celebrate the Countess of Wessex’s birthday.
