There have been reports of loyalists firing shots and hurling bricks and other missiles at Catholic houses in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast this evening.
Sinn Féin councillor Ms Margaret McClenaghan claimed when nationalists came out to defend their area they came under attack.
She said: "As they were doing that someone came out and fired five shots at them."
Loyalist paramilitaries, accused of organising riots in a nearby district, were behind this latest incident, she claimed.
"It's obvious that the Ulster Defence Association has orchestrated it and decided it's time for the people up here to get a wee touch of it," she added.
Earlier today assistant chief constable Mr Alan McQuillan said the UDA was orchestrating the riots and had ordered community leaders not to interfere as they went on the rampage.
A police spokesman confirmed officers were this evening investigating reports of shots being fired from the loyalist end of Ardoyne Road.
The incident came amid an upsurge in violence in the nearby Limestone Road area last night.
Thirteen police officers were injured, none seriously, as a group of loyalists attacked police with gun shots and bombs.
Riot squad officers fired 15 plastic baton rounds. There were no reports of any injuries from those.
Loyalist politicians said the trouble last night was sparked by police heavy-handedness.
PA