Four people were shot last night during the fourth consecutive night of sectarian rioting in east Belfast.

The rioting, which mainly centred on the Lower Newtownards Road, involved fighting between Protestants and Catholics from the nearby Short Strand area.

Police chiefs said loyalist and republican paramilitaries were behind the vicious rioting which left 19 officers injured.

A police officer sustained a gunshot wound to his lower leg during street battles involving up to 1,000 people. A total of 13 shots were fired at security forces, who returned six rounds, hitting a gunman who was dragged away. Two arrests were made.

Police said that 61 baton rounds were also discharged in a bid to disperse rioters hurling petrol bombs, bricks and bottles at police and army lines.

Alliance Councillor David Alderdice who spent most of Monday visiting areas most affected by the violence said east Belfast was a “community living in fear”.

“There are two communities in Belfast which are under siege at the moment, and it will take an enormous and concerted ongoing effort to bring this to an end.

“Other political and community representatives from the republican and loyalist communities have been in the areas, and I can only trust that they are doing their utmost to bring those behind the violence back from the brink, otherwise I fear that lives will be lost in the coming days.”

(AMcE)