MORE RIOTING IN ULSTER

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32425, 12 October 1970, Page 13

MORE RIOTING IN ULSTER

(N.Z.P. A. -Reuter— Copyright) LONDONDERRY, October 11. Fighting continued early today in the turbulent streets of Londonderry as British troops advanced behind a protective wall of metal shields to hurl tear-gas at about 60 rioters.

The trouble had begun in the Roman Catholic Bogside district of Northern Ireland’s second city last night after a Protestant rally had led to clashes between the rival religious groups. Latest reports put the number of Army casualties at 38. Four policemen and many civilians were also injured.

Seven civilians were arrested.

As the troops moved in to disperse the crowds with tear-gas, there were reports that other rioters were gathering just outside the walled city and opposite a Protestant district.

An empty four-storeyed warehouse was gutted during the overnight street fighting, and firemen who tried to extinguish the blaze were stoned by civilians.

One street, near the city centre, was littered with debris on a scale not seen since last year’s most serious sectarian clashes.

The fire began shortly after midnight, about seven hours after a mob of 150 people from the Bogside area had attacked a British Army command post in the city centre, hurling petrol bombs, stones and bricks at British soldiers.

The troops responded by firing rubber bullets into the crowd.

In Maghera, 30 miles away, a crowd stoned Mr Michael Farrell, a Socialist and Roman Catholic spokesman, when he tried to hold a rally in a Protestant street. The police rescued him.