Police vehicle attack on Easter Monday in Derry after dissident republican parade
Up to 1,000 people attended the Saoradh Easter Monday ‘Unfinished Revoluntionary’ commemoration parade to the City Cemetery.
Masked men and women in berets and glasses marched from the Bogside to the cemetery despite a Parades Commission ruling that no paramilitary clothing was to be worn following a complaint from the family of murdered journalist Lyra McKee.
The parade, organised by the New IRA’s political wing Saoradh coincided with the third anniversary of her murder at Creggan’s Fanad Drive on April 18, 2019.
A teenage New IRA gunman fired the shot that fatally wounded the journalist as she observed rioting.
Police earlier today had warned those taking part in the parade they could face arrest for public order offences in breach of the Parades Commission ruling.
As the parade was leaving the City Cemetery, police swooped to make arrests with scuffles breaking out.
Police then came under attack from youths hurling missiles and petrol bombs with a number of PSNI Landrovers being hit.
Eyewitnesses said police left the area as they came under attack with petrol bombs.
A number of people have been arrested and taken to Strand Road police stationing for processing and questioning.
The DUP’s local politician Gary Middleton tweeted of the violence: “These people have no shame. We have seen the impact of violence on our streets over many decades.
“Lives destroyed.
“Devastating that another generation of young people are being exposed to such hatred and bigotry.”
