19 police officers injured during fresh Belfast disorder
Nineteen police officers have been injured in a further night of violence in Northern Ireland after being attacked by youths with petrol bombs in west Belfast.
Trouble broke out in the largely nationalist Springfield Road area on Thursday evening and the water cannon had to be deployed.
Following the disorder in the Lanark Way area of west Belfast on Thursday evening, two men have been charged with riot.
The 24 and 32 year old men will appear at Belfast Magistrates' Court on Saturday 10th April.
The 32 year old has also been charged with possession of a petrol bomb in suspicious circumstances.
In the last week, a total of 74 PSNI officers have been injured during disorder.
A police dog named Daphne was also injured in the most recent violence.
PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Jonathan Roberts has appealed to community leaders and parents to do their part to prevent further riots.
He said: "I would appeal to those who wish to engage in such activity not to.
"It serves no purpose. The police will continue to investigate those who engage in disorder and commit serious offences.
"Last night, a further vehicle was hijacked. People can expect if they are convicted of such crimes to receive custodial sentences. It will change people's lives forever."
ACC Roberts added: "If you're a parent, please make sure you know where your young people are and make sure that your children are not on the streets where they could potentially get hurt, or caught up in circumstances that could change their lives forever."
The PSNI holds the only six water cannons in the UK and they have not been used in Northern Ireland since serious unrest in the summer of 2015.
In a statement, the Policing Board said "the impact and effect of the violence directed against officers on the front line is deeply concerning".
The statement went on: "The Chief Constable has assured the board that the full range of occupational health and welfare support is in place to assist all officers at this time.
"It is also important to record appreciation to the many people who have been working on the ground and with police over the last number of nights to defuse tensions and keep young people away from violence. We thank them for their ongoing work and efforts."
Video: Political reaction to further violence in NI
Northern Ireland's political leaders have once again met with Secretary of State Brandon Lewis and PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne to get an update on the latest violence.
It has also emerged that some of the leaders have discussions with Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney about one of the frustrations of unionists and loyalists - the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Taoiseach Micheál Martin have also called for a calming of tensions, while the White House said it is "concerned by the violence".