Five police hurt in North Belfast violence

At least five police officers were injured during overnight rioting in North Belfast, the PSNI said today.

At least five police officers were injured during overnight rioting in North Belfast, the PSNI said today.

Police lines came under petrol bomb and missile attack during several hours of violence which saw stoning between rival loyalist and nationalist groups followed by a sustained loyalist offensive against police.

Most of the injuries to the officers were believed to be minor - the most serious a suspected broken hand.

A number of security force vehicles were badly damaged during the trouble, one when a BMW car was forced into police lines.

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A police spokesman said they had also received reports of eight homes in the White City and Serpentine Road areas having windows smashed in stoning attacks. A number of private cars were also damaged.

During follow-up searches police recovered clubs, bottles and home-made traps designed to disable police vehicles .