POLICE have been attacked during a republican march in Derry.
A number of missiles were hurled by young people at a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Land Rover which was monitoring an Easter commemoration parade in the Creggan area of the city on Monday afternoon.
The parade, organised by the Derry 1916 commemoration committee, started in the Central Drive area when a number of masked men in paramilitary-style dress formed a colour party carrying the Irish flag and a host of republican flags.
As the parade progressed towards the city cemetery, the police Land Rover came under attack, with masked youths throwing petrol bombs and firing fireworks before it drove off in flames.
The parade culminated at the republican plot in the cemetery, where speeches were heard.
One speaker described the event as “respectful and dignified, paying homage to the revolutionary heroes of 1916 and all the republican dead”.
Police have appealed for calm.
Our officers have come under attack in Creggan with petrol bombs and other objects thrown at their vehicle while in attendance at an un-notified Easter parade. No injuries have been reported at this time. We would appeal for calm. pic.twitter.com/tYSmpPoCk7
— Police Derry City and Strabane (@PSNIDCSDistrict) April 10, 2023
A PSNI tweet said: “Our officers have come under attack in Creggan with petrol bombs and other objects thrown at their vehicle while in attendance at an un-notified Easter parade.
“No injuries have been reported at this time.
“We would appeal for calm.”
The parade, which travelled to the city cemetery, was led by a number of people in paramilitary-style dress.
Last week, senior police warned of the potential of disorder at the event.
Assistant chief constable Bobby Singleton said the force has received “strong” intelligence that there were plans to attack officers on the bank holiday.
Police had increased security measures in response to the un-notified parade.
Political representatives have condemned the violence.
Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O’Neill has described violent scenes where police were attacked in Londonderry as “deplorable”.
She said: “Twenty five years on from the Good Friday Agreement this needless street disorder in Derry has no place in our society.
“As political leaders we must stand united appealing to all those concerned to end these attacks and refrain from further threats of violence, whether in Derry or North Down.
“This type of illegal and anti-community activity is deplorable and out of step from wider community and public opinion.
“Our focus is on the future and on the future of our young, this society is moving forward and peace and stability will prevail.”
Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said the “senseless violence” is the last thing the people of Derry want to see.
“It was wrong 25 years ago and it is wrong now,” he said.
“The saddest part of this spectacle is that young people with no memory or experience of the violence of our past are being manipulated and abused by people with no vision for the future.
“Those whipping our kids into a frenzy and sending them out to attack the police have nothing to offer the people of Derry and this city will continue to reject them.”
Tweeting in response to images of young people throwing petrol bombs, Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said: “Absolute wasters. Sent out to riot by men sitting in pubs acting the big lads.”
Alliance Party MLA Kellie Armstrong tweeted: “Disgraceful. The actions of some who want to drag NI back to dark days is abhorrent.”
Groups marched in west Belfast and other areas in Northern Ireland across the Easter weekend as part of an annual public marking of the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising against the then-British rule across the island of Ireland.
Most parades were lawful and passed without incident.
