Police Attacked with Petrol Bombs After Dissident Republican Parade in Derry

Police in Derry were attacked with petrol bombs and fireworks after a dissident republican parade commemorating the 1916 Easter Rising, with masked individuals in paramilitary-style uniforms leading the procession in defiance of a Parades Commission ban. The National Republican Commemoration Committee, associated with the anti-agreement party Saoradh, organized the march, which has a history of sparking violence. Police reported that young people were used to shield masked participants during disorder, an act described as 'child criminal exploitation.' Authorities arrested two men under the Terrorism Act and seized a van and items related to the event. While organizers claimed intentions for a peaceful commemoration, both police and political leaders condemned the event for glorifying terror and exploiting youth, with some blaming police presence for escalating tensions. The Parades Commission had explicitly prohibited paramilitary attire and proscribed flags, yet these restrictions were ignored, prompting renewed debate over public safety and the legality of such demonstrations.