SF: 'Catholics threatened by loyalist gang in Belfast'

Sinn Féin has claimed that a group of around 40 loyalists crossed the peaceline in south Belfast last night and threatened Catholics in the Lower Ormeau Road area.

The party said nationalist community leaders tried to contact their loyalist counterparts via the mobile phone system set up to ease tensions in interface areas, but the phones were switched off.

It said the incident had compounded fears about the potential for violence during this year’s loyalist marching season and called for dialogue between both sides in an effort to prevent such violence.