LONDONDERRY, Northern Ireland (AP) — Irish Republican Army supporters have clashed with police in the Northern Ireland city of Londonderry and forced Olympic torch organizers to divert the route of their relay through the city.
About 200 protesters shouting anti-police slogans jostled with officers and forced their way on to Monday’s torch route near Londonderry’s city council building. The protesters were criticizing recent police house raids and arrests aimed at suppressing the activities of Londonderry’s small but violent IRA factions in advance of the Olympic torch’s arrival.
Police diverted the torchbearer, 58-year-old Isobel Coote, down a side street. She was able resume her journey to the city’s newly built pedestrian Peace Bridge spanning the river that divides Londonderry into a predominantly Protestant east and Catholic west.
Police said they arrested one protester during Monday’s clash.
