Walls and barricades to be doubled in height in Belfast

The British Army has set about increasing the height of the security walls throughout Belfast after further violent clashes between Nationalist and Loyalist groups during the week.

The walls and steel barricades have been in place between predominantly Catholic and Protestant housing estates and along flashpoints for several years now but recent violence has led army engineers to increase their height.

The move is in response to several nights of fighting over the past week in which five people have been shot and injured while police officers also came under fire last night as they struggled to separate rivals gangs.