Questions Raised Over East Riots

Children as young as nine were involved in violent clashes with police in east Belfast last night, it has been claimed.

Trouble flared following a Sinn Fein rally to mark the closure of Mountpottinger PSNI station.

Up to 200 people took to the streets after the march, prompting police to close the Albertbridge Road as tensions erupted.

Officers attempting to calm two rival gangs were attacked with missiles. Police responded by firing baton rounds.

It is believed both sides hurled bricks, paving stones and golf balls close to the Short Strand flash point.

Police Land Rovers were also set upon, while a PSNI helicopter hovered overhead warning the crowds to disperse.

Youths were also seen attempting to dismantle CCTV cameras attached to the former police station.

It has been reported a 12-year-old girl sustained facial injuries during the violence.

According to sources, around 500 loyalist looked on as the trouble escalated at the junction of Castlereagh Street and Mountpottinger.

Stormont Junior Minister, and East Belfast MLA Robin Newton has sought clarification on who organised yesterday evening's demonstration: "I would like to know if this was an event with the blessing of Sinn Fein, or whether this was something organised by one or two individuals," said Mr Newton

"Because if it was a Sinn Féin organised event, then I think it was something that was reckless on their part. It obviously developed into a riot that they were unable to control."

Sinn Fein said the use of plastic bullets was "completely unjustified".

Local representative Niall O Donnghaile claimed the Sinn Fein rally could not be attributed to the street clashes.

"Interface trouble has been ongoing in this area over the past number of weeks and has been flagged up by community workers and statutory bodies from both sides of the community," he said.

"The PSNI would have been made well aware of this these problems and, in my opinion, have failed to deal with the situation adequately."

Alliance Councillor Maíre Hendron described last night's trouble as "despicable", adding that the closure of the police station "should not have been used as a political football by either side".

SDLP Deputy Leader Alasdair McDonnell MP said it was "madness" to organise a protest meeting at the interface on a Bank Holiday.

If Sinn Fein is once again sponsoring interface kiddy rioting in order to compete with the dissidents for community control, we are in a very dangerous situation," he said.

"It would send a strong signal that they have abandoned even the lip service they have paid to the concept of a shared future and settled once more for ghetto politics."

No arrests were made by police last night.

(PR/BMcC/GK)