There was a fresh outbreak of rioting on the streets of Belfast last night. The most serious disturbances were in North Belfast, where the police said that up to 400 people were involved in clashes between Loyalists and Nationalists along the peace line near the Limestone Road. The RUC said that bottles were thrown and there was a period of heavy stoning at the Haliday's Road junction, close to the Loyalist Tigers Bay area.
Police reinforcements were sent to seal off the area and the rival crowds dispersed to their separate sides of the interface. There were no reports of any arrests. One woman was taken to hospital for treatment to a leg injury sustained during the disturbances. In West Belfast, about 50 people were involved in stone-throwing clashes at the peace line between the Springfield Road and Workman Avenue.
In a separate development, the RUC is investigating two paramilitary-style shootings in the north of the city. A 40-year-old man was shot in the leg on the Ballysillan Road, while a 17-year-old was shot at Lady Park in Monkstown. A 35-year-old man was shot in the leg in a shooting in Lisburn, County Antrim.
