Man attacked as violence flares

Army patrolled the area

A man has suffered a head injury in an attack in north Belfast.

The victim was assaulted outside Ardoyne shops near the junction of Twaddell Avenue before 2200 BST on Monday night.

He was treated in hospital.

The Progressive Unionist Party's Billy Hutchinson said two Protestant teenagers were attacked by nationalist youths.

"There was an incident last night at the corner of Twaddell Avenue, where two young men were attacked by a nationalist mob," he said.

"I arrived on the scene as the young man was being taken away by an ambulance."

An hour later, there were reports of two petrol bombs being thrown from the loyalist Glenbryn area towards the peace line at Alliance Avenue.

Stones were also thrown.

Community leaders and all those with influence must exert that influence to prevent incidents such as these taking place

Martin Morgan
Lord Mayor of Belfast

Earlier, a minibus carrying pupils at Holy Cross Primary School was stoned on the Ardoyne Road.

Windows were broken, but no-one was injured.

Belfast's new Lord Mayor Martin Morgan said on Tuesday such violence should be "unreservedly condemned".

"A lot of good community relations work has been carried out in recent times in north Belfast.

"However, community leaders and all those with influence must exert that influence to prevent incidents such as these taking place," said the SDLP mayor, who was elected on Monday.

In recent years, the area has been the scene of numerous clashes with trouble breaking out at the Ardoyne interface, where Catholics and Protestants are separated by a so-called peace wall.

It made international headlines when there was a protest at Holy Cross Girl's Primary School by residents from the Glenbryn area of Ardoyne against alleged attacks by the larger Catholic community in the area.

Security cameras were installed in the area in an attempt to prevent trouble at the interface.

Last week, Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble met loyalist paramilitary representatives and other unionist politicians to discuss ways of preventing sectarian violence during the Protestant marching season.

Mr Trimble warned violence in Northern Ireland during the summer months could have a negative impact on the chance of political progress.