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Short Strand: Two men shot during east Belfast rioting Short Strand: Police say riot was "orchestrated" by UVF
(about 1 hour later)
The police have confirmed that two men were shot during trouble in east Belfast A senior police officer has described shots aimed at officers during rioting in east Belfast on Monday night as "attempted murder".
Shots were fired by nationalist and loyalist crowds during the disturbances in the Short Strand area. Violence erupted at a sectarian interface on the lower Newtownards Road and Mountpottinger Road around 2100 BST.
Trouble broke out between rioters at a sectarian interface on the lower Newtownards Road and Mountpottinger Road around 2100 BST on Monday. Chief Superintendent Alan McCrum said the trouble was "orchestrated" by the loyalist paramilitary group, the UVF.
The PSNI said some of the trouble was co-ordinated by loyalists. Two men are being treated in hospital for gun shot wounds.
"There certainly was some degree of co-ordination," said Assistant Chief Constable Alistair Finlay In all 11 shots were fired - six from the nationalist side and five from loyalists.
"There certainly were people masked up and there were certainly people wearing surgical gloves and they were attacking those homes on that side, so there was some co-ordination from that side. Petrol bombs, fireworks, bricks, stones and smoke bombs were thrown and homes were damaged during the disturbances.
"There was some planning round this event, it just didn't spirit itself out of the ether." Mr McCrum said: "We believe at this point that members of the east Belfast UVF were involved.
Petrol bombs, fireworks, bricks, stones and smoke bombs were thrown and homes were damaged during the trouble. "It would be a line of investigation to establish whether that was a co-ordinated and organised 'organisational' position (by the UVF leadership).
"But at this point we are satisfied that at the very least members of east Belfast UVF were involved in organising the disorder."
The senior officer said police officers were far outnumbered
The riot in east Belfast was another reminder that Northern Ireland has a peace process but it does not have peace.
The number of walls between Protestant and Catholic areas has risen in recent years rather than fallen.
Outbreaks of violence are relatively rare these days, but tension in some areas continues to simmer.
One night of rioting normally leads to another in Northern Ireland. The challenge facing the police is to stop an isolated problem escalating.
Presbyterian Minister, Reverend Mervyn Gibson heard two bursts of gunfire after midnight.Presbyterian Minister, Reverend Mervyn Gibson heard two bursts of gunfire after midnight.
"Two young men on the Protestant side were injured, both shot in the legs," he said."Two young men on the Protestant side were injured, both shot in the legs," he said.
"I was with them both and helped others to arrange to get them to hospital."I was with them both and helped others to arrange to get them to hospital.
"It really was a serious scene. I haven't seen trouble like this for maybe 10 years in the area.""It really was a serious scene. I haven't seen trouble like this for maybe 10 years in the area."
Sinn Fein MLA Alex Maskey was also on the ground during the disturbances.Sinn Fein MLA Alex Maskey was also on the ground during the disturbances.
"The PSNI told me that they had injured people with plastic bullets on the loyalist side, people who were clearly the aggressors. I have no idea who else was injured," he said."The PSNI told me that they had injured people with plastic bullets on the loyalist side, people who were clearly the aggressors. I have no idea who else was injured," he said.
Mr Maskey claimed members of the loyalist paramilitary group, the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) took part in the attack on the Short Strand.Mr Maskey claimed members of the loyalist paramilitary group, the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) took part in the attack on the Short Strand.
UVF attackUVF attack
"I am very clear in what I am saying," he said."I am very clear in what I am saying," he said.
This particular interface on the lower Newtownards Road has a long history of sectarian violence. The area around St Matthews Catholic church was where the Provisional IRA was involved in its first major gun battle in 1970. At the time republicans claimed they were defending the church and the Catholic community who live in the adjoining Short Strand area, from loyalist attack. Confrontations have flared up sporadically ever since. Following the signing of the Good Friday Agreement and the ongoing peace process, the Catholic church has still been the target of sectarian attacks. Both sides have blamed each other for the violence along the interface. The rioting on Monday night was the most serious for some time.
"I am making a very serious statement and as far as people in the Short Strand are concerned, the UVF launched an attack on the Catholic community in this area. I think it's absolutely disgraceful.""I am making a very serious statement and as far as people in the Short Strand are concerned, the UVF launched an attack on the Catholic community in this area. I think it's absolutely disgraceful."
Police came under attack trying to restore order.Police came under attack trying to restore order.
Laser pens were used to try and 'blind' police. One officer was treated for an eye injury in hospital.Laser pens were used to try and 'blind' police. One officer was treated for an eye injury in hospital.
Police said they are also investigating a report of an attempted hijacking of a bus.Police said they are also investigating a report of an attempted hijacking of a bus.
The PSNI said between 400 to 500 people were involved in the disorder.The PSNI said between 400 to 500 people were involved in the disorder.
Were you in the area? Did you witness the disturbances? Send us your comments using the form below:Were you in the area? Did you witness the disturbances? Send us your comments using the form below:
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