Arrest for attempted murder in Belfast after riot

A MAN has been arrested for attempted murder after a teenager was hit by a car during a riot in Belfast.

Police Service of Northern Ireland officers lifted the vehicle off the 16-year-old girl and gave first aid while separating missile-throwing loyalists from republicans in Ardoyne.

The victim suffered non-life threatening injuries and another woman and police officers were also hit by the vehicle in an area packed with nationalist demonstrators.

Twenty police were injured during violence at the sectarian interface on Monday night after stopping an Orange Order parade marking the Twelfth of July.

A senior officer said it was “regrettable” the event was not marshalled by Orangemen. Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Martin said an inspector’s ear was detached after he was hit by a missile.

In another case only a motorcycle glove prevented an officer’s finger from being bitten off, he added.

Mr Martin said: “I would want to pay tribute to the officers who were under my leadership. They did a professional and brave job.

“At one stage they were in the middle of three opposing factions. They did their duty with courage and professionalism and the humanity of policing was shown very strongly when ... they manhandled that car up on its end so that that young girl could be rescued (from underneath).”

“We had hoped for more effective marshalling of the parades. There was marshalling last year in north Belfast that did not occur this year in nor th Belf a s t , t hat is regrettable.”

Mr Mar tin s aid the violence was orchestrated young people exploiting the tense situation.