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Police in the North have called for “calm to remain” after cars and a disused building were set on fire in Belfast.
The PSNI dealt with what it described as “localised disorder” in the Markets, New Lodge and North Queen Street areas on Monday into Tuesday morning.
Violence erupted in areas of the city on Monday following the removal of material gathered by republican youths for an anti-internment bonfire in the Markets.
Cars were vandalised and torched in the Stewart Street area of the Markets on Monday afternoon and petrol bombs were thrown at police.
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Alliance Party councillor Emmet McDonough Brown rejected the idea Belfast City Council’s new policy to remove bonfire material had failed and condemned the “thugs” behind the disorder.
“Anti-social behaviour of any kind is never acceptable and those behind this latest attack on the people of Belfast must recognise their actions will only serve to make the local community stronger, as they stand in the face of those attempting to bring fear and intimidation back onto the streets.
‘Positive image’
“Belfast is a thriving, cosmopolitan city and we cannot allow the thugs behind these recent attacks to detract from the positive image of Belfast that attracts investors and tourists alike.”
Sinn Féin councillor Deirdre Hargey said: “There is no defending this behaviour at all and it needs to stop now.”
A former credit union on Ross Street in west Belfast was set on fire on Monday evening.
SDLP councillor Tim Attwood said: “It is outrageous that the old credit union building has been torched in Divis. I utterly condemn these actions. There is no place for these mindless thugs in Belfast. They are intent on destroying our community.
‘Frightened’
“Local residents are appalled and frightened by these actions. The people of West Belfast will unite against such attacks.
“Those who have done this must be brought to justice and anyone with any information should pass it immediately to the PSNI.”
Last week a Belfast City Council motion proposed by Sinn Féin – giving council officers the power to order the removal of bonfire materials from public and private land – was carried by 31 votes to 21.
Unionists and the Green Party voted against the motion, with some councillors describing it as unnecessary.
The DUP then said it was challenging the legality of the policy, claiming proper council procedures had not been followed.