Tension has risen in a sectarian flashpoint area of Belfast amid reports of gunfire in the north of the city.
Republicans claimed children had a lucky escape in the Duncairn area after shots were fired in their direction as they were playing football.
Sinn Fein councillor Mr Gerard Brophy claimed five shots were fired from the loyalist Tiger Bay before 11 p.m.
The north Belfast councillor said: "We are very lucky not to have a number of young people shot dead.
"These kids were playing football near the Yorkgate shopping complex and play the game there regularly.
"Tensions are high coming on the back of a pipe bomb attack on Sunday night and last night's desecration of a memorial to those killed in the McGurk's bar bombing."
Earlier nationalists and loyalists confronted each other in the south of the city in the flash point Ormeau area.
Police separated between 70 and 80 people on either side of the divide at the Ormeau Bridge.
A number of stones were thrown at officers and cars were unable to travel up and down the road.
The crowds eventually cleared and the Ormeau Road was reopened but security forces were maintaining a presence in the area.