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The police have defended their withdrawal from the New Lodge during bonfire linked disorder saying the risk of women and children being hurt was too great.

ACC Alan Todd said pulling scores of officers out of the North Belfast district earlier this afternoon was a "responsible, professional policing decision" in the face of violent mobs "using women and children as shields".

The PSNI commander said three officers were hurt in the violence which he said was "orchestrated by older heads probably related to violent dissident republican groupings".

He said the policing operation, to allow contractors to remove a controversial bonfire from the area, swung into action at 5am.

However, with two people on top of the bonfire a significant "public safety" issue arose during what he described as a "dynamic operation".

(Image: Alan Lewis/PhotopressBelfast.co.uk)

ACC Todd said well organised operations do "not always go to plan", adding that he apologised to the New Lodge community for not being able to oversee the bonfire's removal.

But he defended the withdrawal saying there was "very little room for another decision".

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He said he does "not regard this as a successful outcome", but that the risk of using force was outweighed by the risk of the "wider community" getting hurt.

ACC Todd confirmed that water cannon was on standby, but its use and the use of AEPs or rubber bullets was not going to be decided simply to "save face" at the risk of "public safety".

Also today, it emerged that residents in tower blocks surrounding the bonfire are being urged to leave.

(Image: PhotopressBelfast.co.uk/Justin Kernoghan)

A Housing Executive spokesperson said; “Given the ongoing situation in the New Lodge area the Housing Executive is telling residents to leave Oisin and Fianna tower blocks as we cannot guarantee their safety, due to the proximity of the bonfire."

Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly condemned the "anti social" elements behind the bonfire.

The North Belfast MLA said: “I have been on the ground along with Carál Ní Chuilín MLA and party Councillor JJ Magee throughout the day supporting local residents and engaging with all the statutory agencies.

“The PSNI have now confirmed that they have pulled out of the area on the basis that there was a substantial danger to life.

“Emergency services have been activated and the statutory agencies have warned that this bonfire presents a threat to the nearby tower blocks. The Housing Executive are now intervening to advise residents of possible evacuation measures.

"This is a disgraceful situation because residents include people who are already vulnerable, some of whom have disabilities and other health related problems.

“Sinn Féin has been talking to the statutory agencies and residents over a period of weeks and we will continue to do so in the time ahead to ensure the community is kept informed and measures are put in place to ensure there is never any repeat of this intimidation.

“The vast majority of the community have told us they do not want this bonfire. It has been built by anti-social elements..."

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