Petrol bombs thrown at police at republican parade – BBC News

Petrol bombs and other missiles have been thrown at police during an illegal republican parade in Londonderry.

Officers were in an armoured police Land Rover in the Creggan area of the city where the parade began when they were targeted shortly after 14:00 BST.

The parade was led by more than a dozen people in paramilitary-style dress.

It ended at Derry’s City Cemetery where about 300 people took part in an event to commemorate the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising.

A group of youths wearing masks set fire to bins and blocked one of the main roads leading into Creggan.

A police helicopter flying overhead is monitoring developments.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said none of its officers had been injured in the attack and appealed for calm.

Police have advised drivers of road debris in the area.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris told BBC News NI it was “very, very disappointing that people have gone ahead with a march that’s not been notified to the police”.

“Hopefully it will calm down very, very quickly and the police can go about their business because they’re there to protect all communities across Northern Ireland,” he added.

Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said it was “utterly tragic” to watch people born after the Good Friday Agreement attack police.

“They are being groomed by adults who have nothing to offer but misery and destruction,” the former Stormont justice minister said.

DUP MLA Gary Middleton tweeted: “This reckless behaviour is an attempt to cause harm not only to PSNI officers but to our communities as well.

“There must be swift action to bring those responsible to justice.”

SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood said “there are kids with no memory or experience of the violence of 25 years ago and they’re being exploited and abused by people with no vision for the future”.

Chief Constable Simon Byrne had said the disorder could be an attempt to draw officers into gun or bomb ambushes.