Loyalists are blamed over attacks

Cars were burned out in the attacks

Homes and cars have been damaged in attacks in north Belfast, which police believe were sectarian and connected.

There were incidents in a number of areas, which nationalists have blamed on loyalists. Unionist politicians have condemned the attacks.

At 2300 BST a car in Cliftondene Crescent was destroyed by a petrol bomb and paint thrown at three houses.

Later on Friday, at Abbeydale Park, Ballysillan, a car was damaged and paint thrown at two houses.

Two properties at Ligoneil Road and one in Somerdale Park were attacked with paint. A car at Hazelwood Park in Newtownabbey was destroyed by a fire.

In the Cliftondene petrol bomb attack a taxi driver had her car badly damaged. Her 11-year-old son narrowly escaped injury when the windows of their house were smashed.

She did not want to give her name, but said that it had been a terrifying experience.

A taxi driver said it had been a terrifying experience

"The wee fella was screaming - all the glass was around him from the windows," she said.

"I am here nearly four years and I've good neighbours here - Protestant and Catholic - nothing like this has ever happened before - never."

Condemning the attacks, DUP assembly member Nelson McCausland said people should have the right to live in their homes without fear.

"It's clear that since a number of attacks took place in one area on the same night, this was an orchestrated campaign and it's totally unacceptable," he said.

"As well as hurting the families attacked, these attacks damage the entire community and are to be deplored."

These sorts of attacks at this time of the year on the eve of the marching season follow a well worn path Gerry Kelly Sinn Fein

Sinn Fein assembly member Gerry Kelly said he believed the attacks were carried out by loyalist paramilitaries.

"These were clearly well planned and co-ordinated attacks and I have no doubt that they were carried out by one of the unionist paramilitary gangs," he said.

"These sorts of attacks at this time of the year on the eve of the marching season follow a well worn path.

"It is clear that this latest wave of unionist intimidation has been timed to try and influence policy around forthcoming controversial parades in this area."

The SDLP's Pat Convery condemned the attacks and said many organisations and community leaders in the area had been working to build trust.

"It is bitterly disappointing to find that there are people out there working just as hard on an agenda of strife and bigotry," he said.

Cars damaged

"Major trouble often begins with this type of organised sectarian vandalism.

"It is important that it be nipped in the bud this year, so I am calling on the police to step up patrols and be much more visible in areas where trouble-making gangs are known to operate."

Meanwhile, in a separate incident in Glengormley, petrol bombs were thrown at two cars at Farmley Gardens.

One car was destroyed, while the other petrol bomb failed to ignite.

Police said three youths wearing baseball caps may have been involved in the Glengormley attacks, which happened at 0040 BST on Saturday.