Paramilitaries on both sides of the Northern Ireland conflict have been orchestrating recent unrest in East Belfast and other areas of the city, with outbreaks occurring along the “peace wall” in Short Strand and in South Belfast’s Donegall Pass area. The peace wall is designed to separate the Protestant loyalist community from Catholic areas, and is now being increased from 12 feet high to some 23 feet to prevent gasoline bombs and other missiles from being hurled over. British authorities are putting pressure on local leaders to curb the violence. Travel to these neighborhoods should be avoided, but other parts of the city are usually no more risky than other major European cities.
