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Your support makes all the difference.<\/strong>Read more<\/p>\n Northern Ireland\u2019s Environment Minister Andrew Muir has said that a contentious loyalist bonfire in south Belfast<\/a> should not be set alight.<\/p>\n Fresh safety concerns have been raised over asbestos at the site of the fire which is due to be lit on Friday night.<\/p>\n Mr Muir pleaded with anyone who is set to attend the fire to \u201cexercise caution\u201d.<\/p>\n The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) said late on Thursday that suspected asbestos had been found at five locations on the bonfire site and 20kg of material was removed.<\/p>\n Elsewhere, posters depicting the Irish rap group Kneecap<\/a>, and Palestinian flags have appeared on other bonfires.<\/p>\n A bonfire in Eastvale Avenue in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, features the group on a poster with the wording \u201cKill Your Local Kneecap\u201d, seemingly in response to a clip that emerged from a gig in 2023 which appeared to show a member saying: \u201cThe only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the burning of a separate bonfire on Thursday in Co Tyrone which included an effigy of migrants in a boat drew further condemnation.<\/p>\n Controversy has surrounded the Belfast bonfire at Meridi Street off the Donegall Road which is also close to an electricity substation which powers two hospitals.<\/p>\n The Police Service of Northern Ireland<\/a> (PSNI) said on Thursday that the force would not agree to a request from Belfast City Council to remove the pyre.<\/p>\n Later, the NIEA said an inspection had taken place at the site.<\/p>\n A statement said: \u201cThe Northern Ireland Environment Agency can confirm that fragments of suspected asbestos were found at five locations around the site.<\/p>\n \u201cApproximately 20 kilogrammes of suspect material was identified and was immediately removed.\u201d<\/p>\n It added: \u201cThe risk assessment that NIEA has provided to partners has consistently indicated that there was a strong possibility that fragments of asbestos could be elsewhere on the site.<\/p>\n \u201cNIEA understand the landowner is due to arrange the removal of all of the asbestos from the site next week, commencing on July 16 2025, but it is important to note that removing the asbestos will be a highly specialised, complex and delicate operation that will require the site to be fully vacated.<\/p>\n \u201cIndeed, the work is of such complexity that the full removal will take a number of weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Muir, an Alliance Party MLA, told the BBC: \u201cThere are many ways to celebrate, but not at this site.<\/p>\n \u201cPersonally I respect how important the 11th and 12th is, I understand its importance, but I\u2019d plead with people to exercise caution and not to light this bonfire if they could.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cThe removal of asbestos is very complex and delicate, it requires the site to be completely vacated.<\/p>\n \u201cThe site has not been vacated and that\u2019s one of the important issues.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr Alan Stout, chair of the British Medical Association Northern Ireland Council, urged people to stay away from the site.<\/p>\n He said asbestos has caused \u201cuntold harm over the years\u201d, and despite being completely banned since 1999 still causes 5,000 deaths a year in the UK.<\/p>\n \u201cIf there\u2019s asbestos there, just don\u2019t go there,\u201d he told the BBC.<\/p>\n \u201cAny other circumstance, any other environment, be it a school, be it a hospital, be it a leisure centre, if there is asbestos there, you rope it off, you secure it and you remove it in a safe manner and you do not expose your general population to it.\u201d<\/p>\n The Grand Secretary of the Orange Order Rev Mervyn Gibson said people should \u201cgo and enjoy themselves\u201d at the bonfire.<\/p>\n He told the BBC that a council committee vote earlier this week to remove the bonfire was a \u201cpolitical decision\u201d.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cI believe the council voted a couple of weeks ago for the bonfire to go ahead.<\/p>\n \u201cA few days before it, then Sinn Fein<\/a> and Alliance and the SDLP decide to vote against it.\u201d<\/p>\n