Shawdesh Desk:

US President Joe Biden has landed in Belfast at the start of an historic four-day visit to Northern Ireland and the Republic.

Biden was greeted by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as he stepped off Air Force One at Belfast International Airport.

His visit marks the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement – a peace deal which helped end 30 years of violent conflict in Northern Ireland.

The White House hailed the “tremendous progress” since it was signed in 1998.

Biden arrived in Belfast city centre at about 22:20 BST after making the journey from the airport in his presidential motorcade.

A huge security operation has been in place for most of Tuesday, with many city centre streets closed ahead of the visit.

Ahead of his arrival, Mr Biden said he was looking forward to marking the anniversary in Belfast and “underscoring the US commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity”.

His trip to Belfast will be the first leg of a four-day stay in Ireland, during which he will also discuss his Irish roots and meet Irish relatives. His sister Valerie and his son Hunter are also accompanying the US president on the visit.

Biden’s trip comes two weeks after MI5 said the terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland had increased due to a rise in activity by dissident republicans.

During an illegal parade by dissident republicans in Londonderry on Monday petrol bombs were thrown at a police vehicle but the violence was confined to one area and ended a short time later.

On Tuesday, police found four suspected pipe bombs inside the grounds of the City Cemetery in Derry. They believe they were to be used in a planned attack on officers after Monday’s parade.

Biden in Belfast to mark 25th anniversary of Good Friday Agreement

US President Joe Biden has landed in Belfast at the start of an historic four-day visit to Northern Ireland and the Republic.

Biden was greeted by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as he stepped off Air Force One at Belfast International Airport.

His visit marks the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement – a peace deal which helped end 30 years of violent conflict in Northern Ireland.

The White House hailed the “tremendous progress” since it was signed in 1998.

Biden arrived in Belfast city centre at about 22:20 BST after making the journey from the airport in his presidential motorcade.

A huge security operation has been in place for most of Tuesday, with many city centre streets closed ahead of the visit.

Ahead of his arrival, Mr Biden said he was looking forward to marking the anniversary in Belfast and “underscoring the US commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity”.

His trip to Belfast will be the first leg of a four-day stay in Ireland, during which he will also discuss his Irish roots and meet Irish relatives. His sister Valerie and his son Hunter are also accompanying the US president on the visit.

Biden’s trip comes two weeks after MI5 said the terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland had increased due to a rise in activity by dissident republicans.

During an illegal parade by dissident republicans in Londonderry on Monday petrol bombs were thrown at a police vehicle but the violence was confined to one area and ended a short time later.

On Tuesday, police found four suspected pipe bombs inside the grounds of the City Cemetery in Derry. They believe they were to be used in a planned attack on officers after Monday’s parade.