Loyalist paramilitaries are suspected of orchestrating violence near Belfast city centre in which police were attacked with blast bombs and petrol bombs. Several plastic bullets were fired and two people were arrested during the trouble early yesterday in the Protestant Sandy Row area, writes Suzanne Breen, Senior Northern Correspondent
It was the second night in a row there was trouble in the district which runs into the heart of Belfast's entertainment area, the Golden Mile. The disturbances started when a minibus was hijacked and set on fire. A PSNI spokesman said: "Military and police were deployed to contain the situation.
"They came under attack by a crowd of around 75 who threw bricks, bottles, petrol bombs and blast bombs. There were also reports of shots being fired. Two people have been arrested and baton rounds were fired during the disturbances."
Four police officers were injured in the clashes and fire fighters also came under attack as they dealt with fires during the previous night's rioting. Several cars and one shop front were set alight.
Local SDLP assembly member, Dr Alasdair McDonnell, said the violence was "politically motivated by loyalist elements". Assembly member, Ms Monica McWilliams of the Women's Coalition said the community was shocked by the scale of the rioting. She called for an immediate end to the trouble.
Ms McWilliams added: "I am very concerned about this situation, as are most people who live in the area. The use of petrol bombs and blast bombs is particularly ominous. I have visited Sandy Row and the disorder has only damaged the local area and the community."
Loyalists have complained that the trouble began when a young man was assaulted by the PSNI on Saturday night.