Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has said “now is the time for real leadership” and called for all political leaders to speak collectively with “one voice” to condemn violence in the North.
Shocking images emerged on Wednesday night showing petrol bombs being used while a bus was hijacked and set on fire following another night of unrest.
A press photographer was assaulted and the interface gates at Lanark Way were set alight.
Petrol bombs and other objects were thrown over the peace wall which separates the community near Shankill Road, west Belfast, from the Irish nationalist stronghold of Springfield Road in Lanark Way.
The gates of the peace line on Lanark Way were opened, leading to clashes between loyalists and nationalists as social media footage captured petrol bombs being thrown from both sides of the wall.
The PSNI have said 55 police officers have been injured across several nights of disorder in Northern Ireland.
The violence and unrest has kicked off over tension in loyalist communities over the Northern Ireland Protocol and the PSNI’s handling of alleged Covid-19 breaches at the funeral of senior republican Bobby Storey last year.
Numerous Sinn Fein politicians attended the funeral.
DUP leader and Northern Ireland’s First Minister Arlene Foster has called for Chief Constable Simon Byrne to resign after the Public Prosecution Service announced it would not pursue prosecutions over those who attended the Storey funeral - including Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill.
Sinn Fein leader Ms McDonald met with the Chief Constable of the PSNI this morning and said the violence on the streets is “totally unacceptable.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said the violence needs to stop “before someone is killed.”
Mr Coveney told Newstalk that it was not helpful for politicians to get involved in “a blame game” regarding the violence of recent days.
He said: “Some people are pointing the finger at the Irish Government because of Brexit debates and the protocol which I think is completely unfair but it is happening.”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin condemned the violence last night and said “the only way forward is to address issues of concern through peaceful and democratic means.”
He said: “Now is the time for the two Governments and leaders on all sides to work together to defuse tensions and restore calm.”
DUP leader Arlene Foster has faced severe criticism after a tweet she posted in which she said the “real law breakers” were in Sinn Féin.
Labour leader Alan Kelly called the tweet “dangerous, worrying & embarrassing all in one.”
