Police woman seriously injured at Ardoyne
A female police officer has been seriously injured during rioting in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast.
It is understood she had to be dragged to safety by colleagues after being hit in the head with a breeze block. She received first aid at the scene.
It comes as at least one Orangeman was injured as a controversial feeder parade passed the Ardoyne shops, shielded by riot police.
The man, aged 63, was struck with a brick as police struggled to control hundreds of rioters.
Officers had already been pelted with petrol bombs and metal bars, amid appeals for calm from nationalist residents carrying out a peaceful sit-down protest.
About 50 people staged the sit-down on the Upper Crumlin Road, while hundreds more onlookers gathered.
A heavy police presence closed off the Crumlin Road between Flax Street and the Ballysillan Road.
Baton rounds were fired and water cannons were sent into the area.
Meanwhile in south Belfast, youths used a burning blockade to close off the Ormeau Road in the area of the Ormeau Bridge.
Bricks and bottles were also thrown at police.
UTV Live – Twelfth tensions
Tensions are high in north Belfast, while a bus has been hijacked and abandoned in the west of the city. It comes after a night of rioting in which 27 police officers were injured.
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UTV Video – Police try to move Ardoyne protestors
[flv:/flv_video/ww_ardoyneriots_12072010.flv 590 350]UTV Live – Ardoyne protests
As residents stage a sit down protest in response to the planned Orange march through Ardoyne, UTV reporter Sharon O’Neill is at the scene.
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