PSNI officers were attacked by hundreds of rioting nationalist youths in Belfast last night.
The police were set upon after answering reports of a stolen vehicle being set on fire at the Westlink, a stretch of dual carriageway running through the city.
Police had gone to the area when the vehicle crashed along the dual carriageway, but then came under attack from a mob gathered at a bonfire in the nearby Devonshire area. They were pelted with stones and bottles.
More than 200 nationalists, who were commemorating the internment of terrorist suspects during the Troubles, were involved, police said.
There were no serious injuries reported.
The Westlink was closed for a time as officers attempted to disperse the crowds and traffic lights were still out of operation hours later.
Sinn Féin Assembly member Mr Fra McCann accused the PSNI of provoking trouble and of wildly exaggerating the extent of the disturbances.
The West Belfast MLA said the police presence at a bonfire on waste ground had sparked the trouble.
"There was an intention from early in the evening that the PSNI would attempt to provoke trouble," he alleged. "I am disappointed that a very small number of young people fell into their trap."
"At no time were there hundreds of people involved. At its height around a
dozen young people got involved in what could be described as a mini riot."
Mr McCann also accused the police of trying to cause disruption at various
times during last week's West Belfast Festival.