Belfast, U.K.
Belfast erupted in street wars this week as rival Protestant gangs threw gas bombs and bricks at police officers. Rioters commandeered a backhoe and rampaged through the city, tearing down streetlights. At least 50 police and 10 civilians were injured. Unlike the Catholic versus Protestant clashes that have historically rocked Northern Ireland, these riots set Protestant groups against Protestant police. The fighting started when police tried to intervene in a gang war between the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Loyalist Volunteer Force; both factions turned on the cops.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Mickey 17: 'charming space oddity' that's a 'sparky one-off'The Week Recommends 'Remarkable' Robert Pattinson stars in Bong Joon-ho's sci-fi comedy
-
EastEnders at 40: are soaps still relevant?Talking Point Albert Square's residents are celebrating, but falling viewer figures have fans worried the soap bubble has burst
-
What will the thaw in Russia-US relations cost Europe?Today's Big Question US determination to strike a deal with Russia over Ukraine means Europe faces 'betrayal by a long-term ally'
