Violence erupts in Belfast over City Hall flag plan

Violence and protests erupted in Belfast last night after the city council voted to change its policy on flying the Union flag above City Hall.

16 people were injured last night after a group of rioters attempted to storm the historic building following a vote by councillors which ended the practice of flying the Union flag every day of the year.

Instead, the flag will only be flown on 15 designated dates each year, as happens at Stormont.

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Up to a thousand people gathered in Donegall Square while the controversial meeting was in progress and it wasn't long before tensions spilled over into violence.

From: NightwalkersView

14 police officers, a security worker and a photographer were injured during exchanges. Missiles were also fired and police reinforcements were called to contain the protesters.

The flag issue has been a bone of contention for many, both inside and outside City Hall. Nationalist parties Sinn Féin and the SDLP were keen to end the practice entirely, but agreed to a compromise motion from the Alliance Party which would see it being flown on designated dates.

Unionist parties are unhappy with the outcome of the result, saying their British identity is being diluted.

The reaction on Twitter was also mixed:

Unionist activity at Belfast City Hall is sickening.

— Gareth Baines (@GABaines) December 4, 2012

How belfast city hall should look #KeepTheUnionFlagFlyingHigh 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧 twitter.com/davetheflump/s…

— dave jenkins (@davetheflump) December 4, 2012

Woke up to find out that there was rioting in Belfast over the Union Jack being flown at City Hall. I hate this country.

— marcus mumford. (@ssamazing) December 4, 2012

Riots in Belfast over a flag! I agree why remove a flag that was causing no problems! Someone is stirring the pot! #riot #unionflag

— Ricky Hood (@rickyhood) December 4, 2012

There's a big beautiful sun glowing over #Belfast this morning, and it doesn't look like it gives a fiddlers what flag we're flying.

— Ian Livingstone (@IGLivingstone) December 4, 2012

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