2005 Belfast riots
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox civil conflict
| title = 2005 Belfast riots
| partof =
| image =
| caption =
| date = 10–12 September 2005
(previous riots also happened in July)
| place = Belfast and County Antrim, Northern Ireland
| coordinates =
| causes = Orange Order re-routing
| goals =
| methods = Street protests, riots
| status =
| result =
| side1 = Police Service of Northern Ireland
File:Flag of the British Army.svg British Army
| side2 = Ulster loyalists (including members of the 22px Ulster Volunteer Force)
| side3 = Ulster loyalists (including members of Loyalist Volunteer Force)
| leadfigures1 =
| leadfigures2 =
| casualties1 = 81 police officers injured
| casualties2 =
| casualties_label = Casualties
| notes =
}}
The 2005 Belfast riots were serious loyalist riots and civil disturbances in Belfast, Northern Ireland in September 2005. The violence broke out after the Protestant Orange Order Whiterock parade was re-routed to avoid the Irish nationalist Springfield Road area. Clashes also broke out in several towns in County Antrim.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4233850.stm|title=Violent clashes erupt in Belfast|date=11 September 2005|publisher=|via=news.bbc.co.uk}} The incidents took place amid a fierce feud between members of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF), who are also thought to have orchestrated the riots.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/sep/12/northernireland.angeliquechrisafis|title=Riots rain on Belfast's parade|first=Angelique|last=Chrisafis|date=12 September 2005|website=the Guardian}}
Background
Amid increasing sectarian violence and feuds between loyalists, the Whiterock Orange Order parade was delayed in June by the Order in protest against the decision to re-route it via a disused factory site. Irish nationalists opposed the Order to run through their streets.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4209298.stm|title=City parade re-routing criticised|date=2 September 2005|publisher=|via=news.bbc.co.uk}} On 8 September, the Parades Commission said that the decision will stand. Loyalists blocked roads in north and west Belfast as a result.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4225232.stm|title=Whiterock march re-routing stands|date=8 September 2005|publisher=|via=news.bbc.co.uk}}
On 13 July 2005, 80 police officers and seven civilians were injured during nationalist rioting in Ardoyne, north Belfast. Members of the Continuity IRA were blamed after police officers were attacked after withdrawing from policing an Orange Order parade with petrol and blast bombs.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4677401.stm|title=80 officers injured during riot|date=13 July 2005|publisher=|via=news.bbc.co.uk}}
On 4 August 2005, a five-hour loyalist riot in north Belfast injured 40 police officers.{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/08/05/nireland.riots/|title=CNN.com - 40 police hurt in N. Ireland riots - Aug 5, 2005|website=edition.cnn.com}} The rioting broke out after the arrests of six men in connection with the loyalist feud between the UVF and LVF paramilitaries.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/aug/05/uk.northernireland1|title=Police hold six over loyalist turf war deaths|first=Angelique|last=Chrisafis|date=5 August 2005|website=the Guardian}}
Clashes
On the first night of violence on Saturday 10 September, a policeman was shot in the eye as a barrage of petrol bombs were thrown at Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers. An Ulster Defence Association (UDA) member was also hurt in a bomb blast. A cameraman from the BBC was also abducted by loyalist gunmen in Lower Shankill estate, where his camera was destroyed before being released.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/sep/11/uk.northernireland|title=Loyalists shoot at police as riot hits Belfast|first=Henry|last=McDonald|date=11 September 2005|website=the Guardian}}
Rioting continued for a second day on 11 September as a 700-strong mob clashed with police, blocking roads and setting cars on fire. The violence spread to Albertbridge Road in east Belfast. 1,000 police officers and 1,000 British Army soldiers were deployed.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1498220/Belfast-hit-by-second-night-of-rioting-as-loyalist-mob-attacks-police.html|title=Belfast hit by second night of rioting as loyalist mob attacks police|first=Richard Savill and Matt|last=Barnwell|date=11 September 2005|publisher=|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}
On the third night of rioting, violence spread to County Antrim where police were attacked and cars set ablaze in Lisburn, Ballymena, Carrickfergus and other towns. The situation in Belfast was reduced.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/sep/13/northernireland|title=Loyalist riots spread beyond Belfast|last=Staff and agencies|date=13 September 2005|website=the Guardian}}
Aftermath
The riots were the worst in Northern Ireland since the end of the Troubles. PSNI statistics show that 115 shots were fired at police, 146 blast bombs thrown, and 116 vehicles were hijacked.{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/imported/revealed-the-horrific-tally-from-loyalist-riots-28223222.html|title=Revealed - the horrific tally from loyalist riots|newspaper=Belfasttelegraph |publisher=|via=www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk}} The Orange Order blamed the PSNI's actions for being "brutal".{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4234626.stm|title=NI sees 'worst rioting in years'|date=11 September 2005|publisher=|via=news.bbc.co.uk}} A police investigation discovered a loyalist bomb factory in Highfield estate, north Belfast.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/police-find-bomb-factory-after-night-of-rioting-311929.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/police-find-bomb-factory-after-night-of-rioting-311929.html |archive-date=1 May 2022 |url-access=subscription|title=Police find bomb factory after night of rioting|website=Independent.co.uk |date=12 September 2005|publisher=}}{{cbignore}}
On 14 September 2005, the Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain announced that the British government no longer recognised the UVF's ceasefire implemented in 1994 following the "ruthless" attacks on police during the riots.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4243652.stm |date=14 September 2005 |accessdate=29 July 2009 |work=BBC News | title=Hain says UVF ceasefire is over}}
Two loyalist men, John Main and Colin Harbinson, from Belfast's Glencairn area, were jailed in 2007 for opening fire and attempting to murder security forces during the riots.{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/loyalists-jailed-for-rioting-offences-28066506.html|title=Loyalists jailed for rioting offences|newspaper=Belfasttelegraph |publisher=|via=www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk}}