Fighting Erupts in Belfast as Loyalists Attack School Girls Again
Oread Daily | 09.01.2002 21:18
Fighting erupted again today in North Belfast sparked by renewed loyalist violence aimed at Holy Cross Primary school students and their parents. Police say four people have been taken to hospital, three reported to be suffering from gunshot wounds and the fourth believed to be suffering from injuries after being struck by a vehicle. Sinn Fein's North Belfast Assembly member Gerry Kelly added that three Catholic youths had been injured by pellets after being shot at. None are reported to be in a serious condition. At this time the school has been closed. The schoolgirls, some as young as four, have now been evacuated from the area. The school principal Anne Tanney has said that the school will not open on Thursday, until they have assessed the damage caused when the school was attacked.
For several weeks in the autumn the children and parents had been the subject of sustained loyalist abuse and violence on the infamous "corridor of hate" to and from the school. Sinn Fein councilor Margaret McClenaghan said it appeared loyalists were intent on renewing their controversial protest. "Clearly the actions of these loyalists were organized to some degree," she said. She accused loyalists of deliberately raising sectarian tensions in North Belfast by verbally and physically abusing parents going to pick up their children at Holy Cross Primary school prior to today's blockade.
Battles between rival groups of loyalists and nationalists continued throughout the day. At least two police officers were injured and an armored car destroyed by a petrol bomb when the crowds turned their venom on the police as they moved in to separate the factions.
Loyalist attacks are reported to be continuing in the area this evening and nationalists are being urged to remain vigilant.
Sources: Irish American Information Service, Irish Republican News and Information, Ananova, UTV
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