Orange Order march violence

Nine police officers have been injured during serious rioting following the passing of a Protestant parade through a nationalist area of north Belfast.

Daybreak's Richard Gaisford reports.

At least 10 gunshots were fired at police lines during ongoing violence in north Belfast.

No-one was injured as a result of the shooting which happened at Brompton Park at 12.30am.

Nine officers have already been hurt after hours of rioting, during which six baton rounds were fired.

You can find more details on the ongoing disorder on the UTV website.

Ulster TV reporter Sharon O'Neill has tweeted that petrol bombs have been thrown at police in Brompton in north Belfast.

Violence broke out tonight after loyalist and republican parades through North Belfast.

A burning car was driven at police lines, as two water cannons and hundreds of riot police were deployed at the Ardoyne sectarian interface.

Bottles and other missiles were thrown while republicans and loyalists exchanged taunts.

Trouble has erupted for years at the enclave after the Twelfth of July parade, the culmination of the Protestant Orange Order's marching season.

Earlier, around 15 Orangemen took part in a silent token parade past the contested shopfronts, jeered by nationalists and cheered by loyalists but there was no violence.

Rioting with republicans attacking police lines later erupted and continued for several hours.

A police spokesman said:

The Police Service of Northern Ireland have turned a water cannon on Nationalist protesters in Ardoynne.

The Orange Order parade passed through Ardoynne peacefully ahead of the 4pm deadline.

There were minor disputes between members of Catholic Ardoynne community and police.

A small number of nationalist residents clashed with police as the Orange Order parade made its way through the nationalist area of Ardoyne in North Belfast.

The event was largely peaceful but a number of Orange Order supporters shouted abuse at protesters.

Some minor scuffles broke out in North Belfast as an Orange Order marched passed through the catholic area of Ardoyne.

Nationalist protesters clashed with police after the march passed peacefully through the interface area. Punches were thrown, but the area is now peaceful.

The security forces are on the alert for more violence this evening when the parade makes its second journey through the area, but Orangemen say a peaceful solution was reached last night following talks with community groups.

Police in Northern Ireland have appealed for calm this morning as the annual parades by the Orange Order take place across the province.

The Parades Commission have made the controversial decision to allow the Orange Order to march through the catholic area of Ardoyne. They have until 4pm this afternoon to complete their route, after which time local catholic residents will be allowed to stage their own rally.

The Orange Order says this is not enough time and community representatives are fearful of trouble. Riot police will be separating the Orange Order from the local residents. Chairman of the Police Federation Terry Spence appealed for calm saying:

"No yard of road is worth either an injury or the death of a police officer or a member of the public. The parade should not become a day of shame for both communities."