Alliance Party Deputy Leader, Naomi Long, has called for calm after tension following the vandalism of a memorial on the Newtownards Road early on Monday morning. She appealed for everyone to remain calm to ensure that that those determined to cause trouble do not get their way.
The East Belfast MLA and Victoria Councillor stated: "This vandalism incident and the raised tensions in the area are very worrying developments.
"I hope that trouble will not escalate in the area. I do not want the illegal actions of the few disrupting the lives of local people."
Alliance Councillor for the Pottinger area, Máire Hendron said: "We don't want to see a disproportionate security measures being introduced to counter the actions of a few troublemakers, because this will only penalise the local community.
"I would urge people to act calmly and not be provoked into any form of retaliation."
