First modification: 02/02/2021 – 02:32Last modification: 02/02/2021 – 02:30
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Dublin (AFP)
The physical controls introduced in Northern Ireland by Brexit were suspended on Monday in the ports of Belfast and Larne after the personnel in charge of carrying out them received threats, reported several sources.
The local community of Mid and East Antrim Borough announced that it is withdrawing its inspection personnel “immediately” from the port of Larne due to “concerns for their safety”.
The decision was made after “threatening behavior increased in recent weeks”, including labels “about the growing tensions around the Northern Irish protocol and describing port personnel as ‘targets’,” the local community said in a release.
Since the new Brexit regime came into effect on January 1, there have been customs controls for goods crossing the Irish Sea between the British province and the United Kingdom.
To avoid the return of a physical border between the British province and the EU-member Republic of Ireland, which could weaken the peace between unionists and republicans, Northern Ireland remains part of the European single market.
The Northern Irish Prime Minister, Arlene Foster, has considered the threats “completely reprehensible” and alerted on the UTV network of “community tensions” in Northern Ireland.
Twelve community employees work in the port of Larne together with agents from the Northern Irish Ministry of Agriculture and members of the British Border Police.
“We have seen what I would label deeply worrying graffiti and a considerable rise in tensions over Northern Irish protocol, especially in recent days,” said local politician Peter Johnston.
The withdrawal of personnel with “immediate effect” will end when “we have real guarantees and full confidence that they can fulfill their mission without fear,” he said.
The Northern Irish Ministry of Agriculture decided “to temporarily suspend physical inspections of animal products in Larne and Belfast,” according to a spokesman.
Document controls will continue, he added.
Northern Irish police noted on Twitter that they have “increased patrols at Larne port and other entry points to reassure staff and local people.”
Recently, the deputy head of the Northern Irish police had warned that the different regime applied in the province was causing a “growing discontent” in the unionist ranks, who defend the maintenance of Northern Ireland under British rule.
© 2021 AFP
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