A British soldier, aged 18, has been seriously hurt during rioting between loyalist groups in north Belfast last night.
An RUC spokesman said British soldiers were manning a checkpoint in the Ardoyne when they came under attack from petrol bombs and other missiles.
The RUC said several people were treated for shock later when a small bomb was hurled at the back of a house in Alliance Avenue in the Ardoyne area.
"Soldiers who were standing there trying to protect both sides of the community were attacked by these people, clearly with a view to killing them," said Belfast RUC commander Alan McQuillan.
Security forces later found what they said looked like several pipe bombs and petrol bombs in a derelict house.
The soldier was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in the city where he underwent emergency surgery.
A hospital spokeswoman today confirmed he remained in a critical condition.