| Loyalists fire on police in violent clashes |
Police came under fire in north Belfast during another night of loyalist rioting.
Up to 10 shots were fired at the security forces trying to contain more than 300 rioters in the Crumlin Road.
Scores of petrol bombs, fireworks and other missiles were also hurled at police lines.
Several vehicles were hijacked and set on fire - added to the burned out remains of the previous night of violence.
An RUC spokesman said: "It's really heavy petrol bombing and sustained rioting."
Police replied for the second night running with plastic bullets.
The trouble was centred on the junction of Cambrai Street and the Crumlin Road - the scene of sustained gun attacks on Wednesday night.
There were no early reports of any security force casualties to add to the 33 injured during rioting 24 hours earlier.
A rifle and two handguns were uncovered during a police search of the loyalist Serpentine Road area of north Belfast. There were no arrests.
The trouble broke out following a supposedly peaceful loyalist protest on the Crumlin Road which police were forced to close to traffic.
Story filed: 23:45 Thursday 27th September 2001
|
