23rd June 2003

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Short Strand homes come under attack

East Belfast Sinn Fein councillor Joe O'Donnell has said that there are concerns within the nationalist community that there are elements within loyalism intent on raising tensions in the run-up to the marching season. Cllr. O'Donnell was speaking after homes in the Clandeboye area came under sustained attack >from stone throwing loyalists last night.

Cllr. O'Donnell said,

``Last night at around 8pm homes in the Clandeboye area came under quite a heavy attack from Cluan Place. Attempts to end this attack through contacts with interface workers came to no avail and these attacks continued right up until 12:30am.

``While there has been a period of relative calm it is extremely worrying that this attack took place last night coming only weeks after loyalists made threats of violence in relation to parades in East Belfast.

``It would appear that there are elements within loyalism who are intent on raising tensions in the run-up to the marching season. This must not be allowed to happen and I would appeal to this with influence within the Unionist community to work to bring an end to such attacks''.

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