Police hurt as violence flares

Three police officers were injured in north Belfast last night after violence flared between republicans and loyalists for the…

Three police officers were injured in north Belfast last night after violence flared between republicans and loyalists for the third night running.

The three officers received head and leg injuries as they attempted to intervene between rival groups in the Limestone Road area.

The two groups hurled petrol bombs, bricks, bottles and other missiles, including fireworks, at opposing factions and police officers, a spokesman for the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said.

The violence followed the discovery of what police described as "a petrol bomb factory" close to the scene of the violence.

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Officers seized three crates of 50 primed petrol bombs and a stockpile of 300 bottles during the search at Clanchatten Street, off Limestone Road. Sgt Alan Jones said the find was highly significant and the devices could easily have killed.

On Saturday night, several houses in the White City area of north Belfast were attacked in more disturbances. Missiles and petrol-bombs were thrown at the houses in Serpentine Gardens, Thornburn Gardens and Gunnell Hill.

Meanwhile, police in Co Down launched a murder inquiry last night after a 27-year-old man died in a stabbing incident.

He was one of two men stabbed after a dispute broke out among a group of people in the Breezemount area of the village of Conlig outside Newtownards.

Police said later a 15-year-old youth was being questioned about the murder.