Alliance West Belfast representative Donnamarie Higgins has criticised those who threw petrol bombs and stones at police as a bonfire was removed in the area on Sunday.

She said: “It is absolutely disgraceful that officers have come under attack in this way. Tasked with upholding the rule of law, officers need community support, not to become the victims of a galling attack.

“Everyone has the right to celebrate their culture, but no-one has the right to take the law into their own hands in such an appalling way.

“I urge anyone with information to come forward as soon as possible, signalling this is not the kind of behaviour acceptable on our streets in 2019.”