Hundreds gather to 'protect' war memorials outside Belfast City Hall
Hundreds of people have gathered outside City Hall in Belfast to protect war memorials following attacks on a number of statues and memorials across Great Britain in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests.
The Northern Ireland Cenotaph Protection Group (NICPG) said its aim was to protect war memorials amid attacks on statues of historical figures across the UK in recent days.
"We are not a counter protest, we do not have a political message. For those of us who served we served beside men and women of all cultural backgrounds, and those veterans that have been in combat know, above all else, regardless of what colour you are, we all bleed red," it said.
During Saturday's gathering in Belfast, demonstrators wore British military uniforms.
Union flags were also draped over the railings of City Hall.
Officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland attended the demonstration and said no arrests were made or fines handed out.
Assistant chief constable Barbara Gray said: "Due to the nature of the different protests and gatherings, community police continued to engage, explain and encourage people to comply with the the Health Protection Regulations.
"No arrests were made, and no fines or Community Resolution Notices were issued today.
"However, we had a substantial evidence gathering operation in place, and evidence gathered will now be reviewed and we will work with our partners in the Public Prosecution Service as appropriate."
In recent weeks, clashes have sprung up across the country during protests stemming from the death of George Floyd in the US city of Minneapolis while in police custody.
Some protesters have defaced war memorials and a group in Bristol pulled down a statue of Edward Colston and dropped it into the city's harbour, due to his involvement in the slave trade.