IL ‘RITORNO’ DELLA TWELFTH. SCONTRI AD ARDOYNE
Serious trouble erupts in Ardoyne (UTV)
Serious rioting has broken out in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast, with petrol bombs and bricks being thrown at police in the aftermath of an Orange Order parade.
Trouble erupted in Brompton Park with police losing control of the roofs of the Ardoyne shops and temporarily withdrawing from the area.
There are reports of masked rioters wearing surgical gloves.
A water cannon was hit by a petrol bomb and a car was hijacked and set on fire.
Earlier an Orange Order parade returned through the interface area without major incident.
Orangemen passed the Ardoyne shop fronts in almost complete silence, marching along to just a single drum beat.
Hundreds of loyalists greeted the marchers on the Crumlin Road, while a silent protest was held by nationalist residents.
Police in riot gear had already come under attack shortly before 7pm, as they moved in to seal the area ahead of the parade.
Violence flared at the flashpoint, with police deploying a water canon at Estoril Park as a protest by the Greater Ardoyne Residents’ Collective got underway.
Three baton rounds were discharged at nationalist crowds of over 200 people who were attacking police with bricks, bottles, stones and fireworks.
Motorists are being urged to avoid the Crumlin Road, Ardoyne Road, Estoril Park and Brompton Park due to public disorder.
On Monday night, 22 police officers were injured during what the PSNI have described as “significant localised disorder” across nationalist areas of Belfast.