THREE DEAD IN BELFAST

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32117, 13 October 1969, Page 13

THREE DEAD IN BELFAST

43 Wounded In Riot Shootings

(N.Z. Preu Association—Copyright) BELFAST, October 12. The death toll in the all-night rioting in Belfast rose to three today when British Army authorities announced that a second civilian had been killed. ftDOOt 901 I

A pnhfoman and a civilian were shot dead earlier when Protestant demonstrators took to f . streets and dashed with security forces. Twenty-two civilians and 21 soldiers have so far been wounded by gunshots, and firing is reported to be continuing in at least two districts of the capital. Ambulances ran a shuttle service to the city’s hospitals with the injured. The total number of arrests so far, according to one informed source, is nearly 100. An airlift of British paratroops to the capital was ordered today. The reinforcements, a company of 120 soldiers of the Ist Parachute Regiment, are due to leave a Royal Air Force base in Southern England at noon. Another three companies of the crack “Red Devils” have been ordered to stand by. The Cabinet Ministers forming a security group appointed by the Government are due to meet General Sir lan Freeland, the British Army commander-in-chief in the province, later today, and this has given rise to speculation that the Government intends to introduce a curfew to clear the streets at night of potential troublemakers. The disorders, which began when angry Protestant demonstrators marched on a block of flats occupied by Boman Catholics, were the worst since riots in August, which led to the stationing of extra British troops in Belfast About 3000 people took part in the riots, and the violence soon spread over many areas of the city. Sniper Fire Buses and cars were overturned and petrol-bombs and paving-stones were hurled at the police and troops, who also came under fire from roof-top snipers. , Security forces made' re-

peated baton charges and fired teargas to force back the demonstrators, and then called in armoured cars to break down newly-erected bsnieMteK One Protestart clergyman told reporters at the height of the rioting that the people had gone berserk. “We can do nothing more,’* he added. The Protestants were protesting against the reform proposals of the Government and particularly the diiarming of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Protestant “B” Special police reservists. The demonstrators carried placards reading “B Specials in, English out," and “Callaghan Go Home," the latter, a reference to tte present visit to Ulster by the British Home Secretary, (Mr James Callaghan). There are 8000 British troops in Ulster now, and those on duty in Belfast last night seated off the Roman Catholic fiats With barbed wire. Extra trtiops and policemen with riot shields, sent to the worst battle scenes, scurried for safety as gunshots from snipers richbcheted off walls. For the firsttime since they have been bn security duty, the British troops opened fire to forte back the rioters. Whole streets appeared to be in revolt as the violence spread to otter areas of the city. Rescuers Hindered Dozens of fires were started by petrol bombs and ambulance men, tn steel helmets, had difficulty in getting to the injured as shots rained down from high bußdingsAs more and more troops took front line position—with police acting mainly as reserves—tte rioters overturned buses and tars. The violence continued until dawn. *T know I speak for every decent member of the community in condemning this brutal and callous murder,” the Prime Minister (Major James CJiichester-Clark) said of tte policeman’s death.