Riot fears amid Orange parade tensions
Sectarian tensions were on a knife-edge tonight as Orangemen returned to flashpoint north Belfast amid fears of a full-scale riot.
A major security operation was in place after more than 80 spiked metal objects and other missiles were seized in the Ardoyne district where the city’s most bitterly disputed parade was taking place.
With security chiefs warning that republicans planned major street disorder in the area during the Twelfth demonstrations, police described the find as a sinister development.
Chief Inspector Colin Taylor warned: ‘‘We are very concerned that there may be other stashes of weapons which we have not yet found.
‘‘Last year we saw one of the worst riots there have been in Belfast for 20 years in this area and we are doing our best to avoid the same scenario this time around.’’
Fears were heightened after army experts defused a bomb in Belfast city centre close to the Orange Order’s main parade route.
Dissident republicans have been accused of abandoning the device containing fuel in a van in Little Donegal Street.
In Ballymena, Co Antrim, around 200 nationalists attacked police with bricks, bottles and fireworks after being held back from an Orange parade.
Earlier a stash of petrol, and acid bombs had been found in the town’s Dunclug estate.
But fears were running highest in tinderbox north Belfast.
Earlier, Catholic protesters hurled abuse at Orangemen as they walked along Belfast’s most hotly disputed parade route on their way to joining the main parade.
But there were no clashes between the two sides.
More than 200 Catholics lining the road chanted ‘‘no sectarian marches’’ and whistled and jeered at the Orangemen. Some also spat on the marchers.
In west Belfast, around 150 protesters turned out as Orangemen came down the Springfield Road.
Once again, they whistled and shouted but there was no contact between the two sides.
