Londonderry riots, one dead

[mr friendly guy]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/0 ... bs-thrown/

Londonderry riots: Lyra McKee named as murdered journalist as police suspect New IRA is behind attack

ar-old journalist, was killed in Londonderry last night, police confirmed
Telegraph Reporters
19 APRIL 2019 • 6:41AM
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A journalist murdered in Northern Ireland last night has been named as 29-year-old Lyra McKee, as police said they suspected the New IRA of carrying out the attack.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland's (PSNI) Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton confirmed Ms McKee was the victim after shots were fired in Londonderry, with police treating her death as a "terrorist act".

It was suspected "violent dissident republicans" were behind the attack, which police said was most likely perpetrated by the New IRA.

Speaking at a press conference this morning, Mr Hamilton said: "Unfortunately, at 11pm last night, a gunman appeared and fired a number of shots towards police and a young woman, Lyra McKee, 29 years old, was wounded," she said.

"She was taken away in a police landrover to Altnagelvin Hospital but unfortunately she has died there. We have now launched a murder inquiry here in the city.

"We believe this to be a terrorist act, we believe it has been carried out by violent dissident republicans, our assessment at this time is that the new IRA are most likely to be the ones behind this and that forms our primary line of inquiry."

Prime Minister Theresa May said: "The death of Lyra McKee in last night's suspected terrorist incident in Londonderry is shocking and truly senseless.

"My deepest condolences go to her family, friends and colleagues.

"She was a journalist who died doing her job with great courage."

Ms McKee tweeted about the "absolute madness" in Londonderry in the hours before she was shot dead. She was said to be covering the unrest as violence flared in the city when masked attackers appeared to throw petrol bombs, fireworks and other debris at police Land Rovers.

The journalist rose to prominence in 2014 after a blog post called "Letter to my 14-year-old self" in which she spoke about the struggle of growing up gay in Belfast.

In the five years since, her letter was turned into a short film, she became a published author with Angels With Blue Faces, and had recently signed a two-book deal with Faber & Faber, as well as appearing in domestic and international publications.

Named as one of the "30 under 30 in media" by Forbes Magazine in 2016, Ms McKee, who worked as an editor for California-based news site Mediagazer, a trade publication covering the media industry, was cited for her passion of "digging into topics that others don't care about".

Seamus Dooley, of the National Union of Journalists, said the organisation was "shocked by (the) killing of a journalist of courage, style and integrity".

Robin Swann, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, said news of the death was "devastating".

He tweeted: "A precious life lost, we can't go back to this nor can we allow others to drag us back."

Leona O'Neill, a local journalist, said she was at the scene of the killing.

Writing on Twitter, she said: "I was standing beside this young woman when she fell beside a police Land Rover tonight in Creggan £Derry.

"I called an ambulance for her but police put her in the back of their vehicle and rushed her to hospital where she died. Just 29 years old. Sick to my stomach tonight."

Police had cordoned off the Fanad Drive area of Creggan as violence left a van and car burnt out in the middle of a road.

Mark H Durkan, SDLP MLA for Foyle, said he was "heartbroken and angry" by the killing, which is being blamed on dissident Republicans.

"Just leaving Creggan, heartbroken and angry at the senseless loss of a young life," he tweeted.

"Violence only creates victims, that's all it ever has done. The thoughts and prayers of our city are with the young woman's family and friends, may she rest in peace."

The police force earlier tweeted: "Police are appealing for calm after a number of shots have been fired and petrol bombs thrown in the Creggan area of Derry."

The unrest comes ahead of the Easter weekend where republicans mark the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising, a time when dissidents are traditionally active.

Arlene Foster, Democratic Unionist Party leader, called the killing "a senseless act".

"A family has been torn apart. Those who brought guns onto our streets in the 70s, 80s & 90s were wrong. It is equally wrong in 2019," she said.

"No one wants to go back. My thoughts are also with the brave officers who stood in defence of their community."

Gary Middleton, a DUP former deputy mayor of Derry City Council and current Member of the Legislative Assembly, tweeted: "Disgraceful scenes of violence in the Creggan estate tonight.

"PSNI and members of the public being put in danger by unrepresentative thugs intent on destroying communities."

What's the chance this gets worse as Brexit comes around?

[Zaune]

What's the chance this gets worse as Brexit comes around?

High. Very high. Incidents like this have been on the rise since the big crash in 2008 but when the referendum result came in they were always going to escalate.