Orange men attacked in Armagh, Belfast

Orange men returning from demonstrations in Northern Ireland came under attack from stone-throwing youths yesterday.

Orange men returning from demonstrations in Northern Ireland came under attack from stone-throwing youths yesterday.

Police said a number of buses were attacked as they travelled through Armagh city yesterday afternoon and windows were broken.

There were a number of injuries from broken glass, and one person had been taken to hospital after four vehicles were ambushed.

A number of Orange Order supporters' cars were also targeted by a crowd of 30 to 40 people.

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The loyalists were returning from the main assembly point in Loughgall, Co Armagh, and had taken a different route from that recommended by the PSNI.

Orange Order members and supporters also came under attack last night from people hurling golf balls, fireworks and ball bearings during a parade in North Belfast.

A bottle was also thrown by a nationalist protester at buses carrying loyalist supporters through the Ardoyne interface.

Community workers in the area had spent weeks trying to dampen tensions, and the sporadic missile throwing was greatly reduced from previous years when riots have taken place.