Although the peace process initially progressed mostly trouble-free , tensions escalated in 2001 with increasing sectarian conflicts , rioting , political disagreements and the decommissioning process . Real IRA bombs at the BBC and a commercial district in London threatened to derail the peace process . The Holy Cross dispute in north Belfast starting in June 2001 would become a major episode of sectarian conflict . Widespread rioting occurred in July , and that same month the loyalist Ulster Freedom Fighters ( UFF ) pulled out of the Good Friday Agreement whilst the Progressive Unionist Party ( PUP ) withdrew from the " current phase " of the peace process . On 26 July two hardline Ulster Unionist Party ( UUP ) MPs , David Burnside and Jeffrey Donaldson , both called for their party 's withdrawal of supporting the new power-sharing Stormont assembly
commercial district
2001 Ealing bombing
Northern Ireland peace process