Violence in north Belfast as mobs clash

Police were called out to separate rival nationalist and loyalist factions in north Belfast last night.

Police were called out to separate rival nationalist and loyalist factions in north Belfast last night.

Petrol bombs, stones and other missiles were hurled as violence broke out in the Hesketh Road and Whitewell areas of North Belfast.

The fighting followed riots early yesterday and Monday night.

Police said eight shots were fired at police lines as they attempted to keep loyalist and republican groups apart at Carlisle Circus. The shots came from the loyalist side.

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There were no reports of any police injuries .

The PSNI said there was also a blast bomb attack at Serpentine Gardens and further rioting in the Whitewell area of north Belfast.

Several people were injured as mobs stoned each other at North Queen Street. A man in his 20s was injured when struck by a silver-coloured car. Sinn Féin MLA Mr Alex Maskey blamed loyalists for initiating the violence. He claimed the PSNI was attacking nationalists but ignoring the violence from loyalists.

Mr Billy Hutchinson of the Progressive Unionist Party said that he had seen "known republicans" orchestrating the rioting.

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Gerry Moriarty

Gerry Moriarty

Gerry Moriarty is the former Northern editor of The Irish Times