Petrol bombs thrown at police in Ardoyne

The BBC's Andy Martin: "We're hearing petrol bombs have been thrown"

Petrol bombs and other missiles have been thrown at police during rioting in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast.

The trouble broke out after police in riot gear took up position ahead of an Orange parade walking past the Ardoyne shops.
Stones, bottles and fireworks were thrown at police. Water cannon were used to push back the crowd.
The police also fired a number of plastic bullets.
A car was set alight nearby on the Crumlin Road.
The Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective (GARC) which opposes the Orange parade passing through the nationalist Ardoyne held a protest in response to the Parades Commission, decision to allow the march to pass the shops.

Analysis

Andy Martin BBC News

The return Orange Order feeder parade through Ardoyne has been treated as 'contentious' by the Parades Commission for years.
Objections from residents on the nationalist part of the Crumlin Road through which it passes have led to serious rioting in the past. Where mainstream republicans were once able to use their influence to calm trouble, there are now two distinct nationalist groups. Those that subscribe to Sinn Fein's peace strategy, and those who do not.
The difference was plain to see this evening as former senior members of the IRA effectively marshalled one group of protesters, while another threw petrol bombs and bricks at the police. Sinn Fein's influence over this group is limited.
Some are involved because they genuinely object to the parade, others are there because they simply enjoy rioting with the police.

The Orange parade has now passed through the area.

Last year, there were several days of rioting after the parade was allowed to walk past the shops.
There has also been some minor disorder in east Belfast.
A number of youths have been throwing stones and missiles at police in Stewart Street. A car was set on fire.
The police said there had also been outbreaks of violence in Londonderry, Armagh and Antrim.
A 14 year old boy was arrested in the Fahan Street area of Derry city following disturbances there. A crate of petrol bombs were also recovered.
'Challenging time' In Armagh, there have been reports of public disorder in the Friary Road and Killylea Road areas. And in Ballymena a car was burnt out in Dunclug.
PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Alistair Finlay said the past 24 hours had "been a very challenging time".
"My colleagues are working around the clock to protect the community right across Northern Ireland and we have sufficient resources in place to do this," he added.
"We have unfortunately witnessed first hand this evening how violence damages people's homes and businesses, it sets back relationships and leaves wounds which take time to heal."
He said police would carry out a rigorous investigation, which would include the examination of CCTV footage.
On Monday night, 22 police officers were injured during serious rioting in several nationalist areas of west and north Belfast.
An investigation is continuing into the possibility that shots were fired during the trouble in west Belfast.
An ambulance and a fire engine were also attacked.
More than 40 petrol bombs were thrown at police, who said crowds of about 150-200 people were involved in the violence at Broadway and about 200 in both the Oldpark and New Lodge areas of north Belfast.
Crowds of nationalists threw petrol bombs and masonry at police who fired 51 plastic bullets in the Broadway and Oldpark areas.

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