Real IRA blamed for Belfast riots

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BBC

The Real IRA has been blamed by Sinn Fein for trouble in north Belfast.

At least one shot was fired at police by republicans and there were other disturbances after Orange Order parades across Northern Ireland.

Thirteen police officers were hurt across Northern Ireland and baton rounds and water cannon were used.

Earlier in Killyleagh, County Down, a female spectator was killed and a nine-year-old boy injured when they were hit by a car involved in a parade.

'Accident'

A Police Service of Northern Ireland spokesman said the incident appeared to be an accident.

The woman, who has not been named, was 30 years old and was a member of a flute band playing in the parade.
Fire set alight in Ardoyne
Disturbances continued in Ardoyne into the night

Violence in the Ardoyne area of Belfast continued into Monday night, with petrol bombs, fireworks, stones, and bottles thrown at police after they tried to divert rioters away from a parade route.

Three vans were also hijacked and two of them were pushed at police lines.

Police appealed for community leaders to help reduce tension and promised a "rigorous investigation" to identify those who had taken part in the trouble.

Incidents have also taken place in several other towns across the province.

In the early hours of Tuesday, police and Army bomb disposal experts were called to a security alert in Lurgan, County Armagh. It was sparked by a suspicious object in a car that was hijacked earlier.

In the Memorial Hall area of Londonderry, 11 petrol bombs were thrown during Monday's disturbances, but there were no reports of any injuries or arrests.

Rival groups taunted each other as Orangemen and a small number of bands made their way through the Diamond area.

Both sides spat at each other and threw missiles. Police separated factions, but were themselves attacked by nationalists throwing stones and bottles.

NORTHERN IRELAND TROUBLE
Map showing areas hit by violence follwing Orange Order parades
Ardoyne
Shots fired at police
18 baton rounds fired
Water cannon deployed
Petrol bombs and other missiles thrown
Nine officers injured
Three vans hijacked
Sinn Fein blame Real IRA for trouble
Firearm handed to police after children spotted playing with it
Londonderry
11 petrol bombs thrown in Memorial Hall area
Minor trouble at return city centre parade
Missiles thrown
Trouble in Butcher's Gate
One police officer injured
Armagh
Device explodes on Friary Road
Petrol bombs thrown
Two cars stolen and set on fire
Four people arrested
Rasharkin
Stones, petrol bombs thrown
Three police hurt
One arrested
Source PSNI

Woman dies in parade car accident

In Armagh, police came under attack with missiles and paint following a security alert at Friary Road in which a minor explosion occurred.

Four people have been arrested for public order offences and at least two cars were also stolen and set alight.

In Rasharkin, County Antrim, officers also sustained minor injuries when they were struck by stones and bricks. One man was arrested.

'Bigotry and intolerance'

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Alistair Finlay said it was disappointing "isolated outbreaks of violence had marred the day for all communities".

He said: "Right across Northern Ireland there were hundreds of parades that passed off peacefully.

"However, it is very disappointing that there were a minority of people, in north Belfast, Derry, Armagh, Rasharkin and other parts of Northern Ireland who showed total disregard for local communities.

"They displayed the worst possible face of Northern Ireland - a face of bigotry, sectarianism and intolerance that is not representative of the vast majority of people who have moved on and embraced a peaceful future."

Sinn Fein's Gerry Kelly said a "a small number of dissident republicans from outside Ardoyne" had stoked sectarian tensions and orchestrated the trouble.

He said: "The Real IRA or whatever they may call themselves and some other splinter organisations sent people over here with the sole aim to cause riots, to bring this further down into sectarianism.

"They had no concern for the people of this area or their safety."

Lot of riots this year.