AS CLASHES between unionists and nationalists intensified in north Belfast last night, sporadic rioting erupted in various locations. Petrol bombs were thrown and plastic bullets were fired by security forces. The RUC issued an appeal to community leaders in both sections to help defuse the tension. In the Mountcollyer area, nationalists staged a sit down protest to demand that the authorities erect a security barrier in the street to protect them from loyalist attack. The residents claimed that loyalists from the nearby Tigers Bay area attacked their homes with bricks and bottles yesterday.
At the weekend, families leaving the International Thrill Show in Dunmore Stadium were caught up in bitter sectarian clashes.
About 5,000 people attended the monster truck show on Sunday. As the crowd left the stadium, they were confronted by groups of nationalist and loyalist youths wielding hammers and crowbars and throwing bricks. The trouble is believed to have started after loyalist youths were ejected from the stadium.