Four people have been arrested after police stopped a bus leaving the South Armagh area. The four, two of them juveniles and all from Belfast, were detained over suspected public order offences, believed to be connected to earlier disturbances.
Twenty-one police officers and three soldiers were injured when Republican protestors attacked two security force watchtowers close to the South Armagh border and broke into the Crossmaglen police station.
Two of the injured officers were airlifted to hospital with head injuries after being attacked with petrol bombs, iron bars, bottles and fireworks. A soldier suffered burn injuries when the protesters filled a large oil drum with petrol and set it alight.
Nine officers were injured at the Creevekeeran military post when clashes broke out after the protestors attempted to cut through perimeter wire and attacked the police.
One hundred protestors were involved in the attacks and police discharged two plastic baton rounds. Further clashes then developed at the Drummackaval post where ten officers were injured.
The crowd later attacked the Crossmaglen police station breaching the base gate. Petrol bombs were also thrown. Police chiefs have said the violence was orchestrated and the protestors were intent on violence.
The violence followed a protest by members of young Sinn Féin at what they claim are "token measures on demilitarisation".
The Newry and Armagh Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy claimed a number of Sinn Féin protestors were hit with plastic bullets and have been injured.
Mr Murphy condemned what he called the " bully boy tactics " adopted by police" as part of British military aggression".
