There was further violence in north Belfast late last night. The RUC said a number of petrol bombs were thrown in the Alliance avenue and Glenbryn areas and there were unconfirmed reports that shots had been heard in the Alliance Avenue area. The RUC also said stones were thrown at police officers in the Ardoyne area. A car was set alight at the Crumlin Road junction.
Earlier disturbances erupted between nationalist and loyalists in north Belfast in which Protestant homes were damaged and cars destroyed in the Hesketh Road area.
Meanwhile, the rail line between Portadown and Newry was closed after the RUC received a call shortly after 10.30 p.m. claiming suspect devices had been left on the line. Meanwhile, several people were taken to hospital after six carloads of men threw bricks and paint-bombs at homes on the Crumlin Road. An RUC spokesman said windows in five homes were broken during the disturbances, which started at 3 p.m.
On Thursday night, three RUC officers were injured in renewed clashes between loyalists and nationalists in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast. Protestant residents in the Twaddell Avenue area claimed they had been attacked by men from the nationalist Ardoyne district.
Sinn Fein, meanwhile, accused loyalists of increasing sectarian tensions. A loyalist community worker, Mr Alfie McCrory, said people were living in fear and called on Sinn Fein MLA for North Belfast Mr Gerry Kelly to calm tensions. Sinn Fein councillor Ms Margaret McClenaghan said attacks against Catholics in the area were orchestrated by the Ulster Defence Association.