The bus was allegedly hijacked and set alight south of Belfast

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The incident has happened on the Eleventh Night, which is an annual Ulster Protestant celebration when bonfires are traditionally lit. The East Belfast Ulster Volunteer Force "intend to orchestrate serious disorder" against police officers on the Eleventh night, the police have said. Police received calls at around 7:30pm about armed masked men hijacking the bus.

A hijacked bus was burnt out and roads were blocked with burning vehicles

A police spokesman said: "It was reported that a number of masked men, one carrying a suspected firearm, hijacked the bus in Blenheim Drive before setting it on fire. "Police and NIFRS are currently at the scene extinguishing the fire. “A number of passengers who were in the bus at the time were not injured.” Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd urged "those who have influence" to discourage people from "taking part in any illegal activity".

A Translink bus was burnt out in the incident

The incident took place in Benheim Drive, Newtownards, County Down. There has also been an incident at Belfast City Airport where passengers were kept inside the airport following an incident on the Sydenham bypass. Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said earlier today: “Police have received Information from the community which indicates that the East Belfast UVF intend to orchestrate and participate in serious disorder in East Belfast this evening directed against my officers.

Police unblock roads in Belfast following unrest