‘Shots fired during east Belfast riots’
POLICE have confirmed shots were fired during sectarian riots between loyalists and republicans in east Belfast.
Petrol bombs and bricks were thrown in the Short Strand area of the lower Newtownards Road on Monday night.
It is believed the clashes intensified after a series of suspected tit-for-tat attacks in the Castlereagh Road and Woodstock Road areas earlier in the evening.
As many as 1,000 people were reported to be involved in the rioting, which included hand-to-hand combat.
Local community worker Jim Wilson described the trouble as the worst he had seen in years.
“This has been brewing for some time. There are more and more people gathering up on each side, there could be as many as 400 or 500 on each side,” he said.
“This is very serious, and it is a major setback for community relations. This is the worst I have seen in years, at one point they were fighting hand-to-hand. It is a very dangerous situation at the moment.”
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
