Two Injured Following East Belfast 'Disorder'

Police have confirmed they dealt with "pockets of disorder" in areas of east Belfast on Monday night. It is the second consecutive night of trouble in the area.

During Monday's incidents, a number of missiles and fireworks were thrown at officers.

In the Templemore Avenue area, petrol bombs were thrown at police, but they failed to ignite properly and no damage was caused; while one person was arrested for disorder offences in the vicinity of Paxton Street.

Two people were left injured in the trouble. One was a PSNI officer who suffered an injury to his arm, while the other injured was a teenage boy, who is thought to have suffered a fractured skull.

In a statement the PSNI said: "At various times from around 7pm onwards crowds of youths gathered in Castlereagh Street, Woodstock Link, Albertbridge Road and Templemore Avenue.

"At this time it is not known how he [the teenager] sustained the injury however it is believed to have occurred in the Albertbridge Road area shortly after 7pm.

"Police also received reports of stones, bottles and other missiles being thrown in both directions across the fences at the interface causing some damage to homes on both sides and a vehicle in Bryson Street was hit with a paint bomb."

There were also reports that a 15-year-old had been attacked with a hatchet, but the PSNI took to Twitter to dismiss these claims. They said no one had been attacked with such a weapon, but a teenager had been struck on the head. Reports of "serious disorder" in the area were also said to be untrue by the police.

Chief Inspector David Moore said: "Police officers came under attack yet again last night and local homes have been damaged.

"We need to get away from disorder becoming a nightly event. People in this area, no matter what community they come from, do not want it.

"Police have been working closely with community representatives to find workable solutions and we will continue to do so."

(JP/IT)