Ireland‘s Foreign Affairs Minister said the violence in Northern Irelandneeds to stop before someone is killed.

Simon Coveney described Wednesday night’s scenes in Belfast as “shocking”.

“The day after tomorrow we are recognising 23 years of one of the most resilient peace processes anywhere in the world,” he told RTE Morning Ireland.

“This is a time of real tension in Northern Ireland, unfortunately, that political leaders and community leaders need to respond to, like they have done in the past, to defuse tensions and come together rather than have a go at each other.

Mr Coveney added: “To see attempts to incite a response at an interface area to try to spread the violence beyond the loyalist community into the nationalist community is worrying.

“This needs to stop before someone is killed or very seriously injured. A lot of people have responsibilities to try to work to defuse tensions and that needs to start at the top, at a political level.”

Striking images show what happened at a peace wall in Belfast last night where clashes broke out.

The NI Police Federation, the body that represents rank and file PSNI officers, has said at least seven officers were injured in the latest night of rioting in Northern Ireland.

Federation chair Mark Lindsay said: “The latest information I have is that there were seven more injured last night and that’s only officers whose injuries were reported at the time and that includes injuries to lower limbs and some concussion.

“Obviously my thoughts are with them this morning, but we’re probably going see some more injuries documented as the day goes on.”

Mr Lindsay said Wednesday’s violence was “disturbing” and escalated a “couple of notches” from the disorder witnessed over previous days.

Last night, the gates of the peace line on Lanark Way were opened, leading to clashes between loyalists and nationalists.

Footage captured petrol bombs being thrown from both sides of the wall:

Boris Johnson said last night he was “deeply concerned” by the scenes in Northern Ireland – especially attacks on police, a bus driver and a journalist:

But Labour’s shadow Northern Ireland secretary replied, accusing him of a “vacuum of leadership”:

Here is what one Labour MP has to say about the violence:

The meeting comes the morning after violence escalated on the sixth consecutive night of unrest on the streets of Northern Ireland.

A bus was hijacked and set on fire in Belfast in one of the several incidents on the peace line street that links the loyalist Shankill Road with the nationalist Springfield Road.

Sam Hancock has the full story:

The Northern Ireland Executive is to meet this morning to be briefed on the ongoing unrest seen over the last week.

News of the meeting was confirmed late on Wednesday night with trouble still raging on the streets of Belfast.

Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said: “The Executive will meet tomorrow morning to be briefed on the violence and street disorder which is causing huge distress in local communities at this time.

“Those involved in violence, criminal damage, manipulation of our young people and attacks on the police must stop.”

Leaders will meet at 10am – an hour before the Stormont Assembly is to be recalled to discuss the recent scenes of violence.