The hijacking and burning of a bus in a loyalist area of Newtownards, Co Down, on Monday morning was timed to mark the DUP's missed deadline.

Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie called the incident "utterly disgraceful" and said the "stupid actions of thugs and criminals" was simply hurting their own community. His party colleague, Strangford MLA Mike Nesbitt, said there was "absolutely no justification" for the hijacking and destruction of the bus.

Sinn Fein MP John Finucane called the attack "reckless and despicable" and urged unionist leaders to cease using "provocative language" around the NI Protocol.

'Sapere aude'