Sunday marked a third night of disorder in the cities of Belfast and Derry / Londonderry, where police were targeted by petrol bombs and hijacked cars and set on fire.
According to a statement by the Northern Ireland Police (PSNI), the clashes involved children as young as 12 years old.
On Saturday night, 30 petrol bombs were dropped at police in Newtownabbey, Belfast and three vehicles were hijacked and set on fire, police said, in what they describe as an “orchestrated assault”.
It followed Friday riots in both cities following a decision not to prosecute Irish nationalist party leaders Sinn Fein for allegedly violating coronavirus restrictions by attending the funeral of a former leading IRA figure during the lockdown last year. The decision is under review.
Instead, it creates a de facto border along the Irish Sea, as goods entering Northern Ireland from Britain are subject to EU controls – a move that has angered pro-British unionists.
Police found the escalating violence “unacceptable” and called on residents to help reduce local tensions and prevent further incidents.
David Campbell, chairman of the Loyalist Communities Council, recently told CNN that “things can get out of hand very easily, so it’s essential that dialogue takes place … [if not] there would have been demonstrations before the Covid restrictions – I have no doubt the gates would have been blocked. “
Speaking of Friday’s incident, Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey said in a statement, “Tonight we unfortunately saw skirmishes between youth and the PSNI in the Sandy Row area following a protest organized by loyalists against the protocol.”
“I appeal to the DUP and the political union to show leadership, end their dangerous rhetoric and ensure that tensions quickly de-escalate,” Maskey added.
CNN’s Kara Fox contributed to this report.