Belfast violence 'despicable', says Theresa Villiers

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, has denounced the violence which has taken place in Belfast following the decision to fly the union flag at city hall on designated days, not daily.

On Monday night, a policewoman escaped injury after a masked gang threw a petrol bomb inside an unmarked police car, opposite Alliance Party MP Naomi Long's east Belfast office.

Ms Villiers told the BBC the violence was "despicable" and could not be justified by strong feelings about the flag.

She also condemned a death threat made against Naomi Long as "an affront to democracy" and said the police service of Northern Ireland had her full support.