Police say Northern Ireland violence 'not orchestrated by a group'
The PSNI has backtracked on an assessment that the disorder in Northern Ireland in recent days was orchestrated by loyalist paramilitaries.
It follows a statement from the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) - an umbrella group representing the UVF, UDA and Red Hand Commando - that none of its groups were involved in rioting "either directly or indirectly".
Responding on Friday, PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Jonathan Roberts said: "It's our overall assessment that the violence that has taken place over the last few nights is not orchestrated by a group, in the name of that group.
He added: "We feel that there are may be some people, who could have connection to proscribed organisations, who have been present on the scenes of violence.
"But we don't believe it's been sanctioned and organised by prescribed organisations."
In a statement, the LCC said: "The right to peaceful protest is a fundamental human right, but we have made it clear in all our public statements that any actions taken by the loyalist community should be entirely peaceful.
"We again place on record our absolute determination to remove the hard border between Northern Ireland and the rest of our country that has been imposed on us by the NI Protocol
"We have repeatedly urged HM Government, political leaders and institutions to take seriously our warnings of the dangerous consequences of imposing this hard border on us and the need for earnest dialogue to resolve matters. We reiterate that message now."
The statement continued: "Indeed, there is a complete failure to understand loyalists as people and equal citizens.
"A new Protocol must be negotiated that restores those key Agreement safeguards.
"The LCC is seeking an end to all violence and to solve the underlying concerns of the loyalist and unionist communities."