Police officers fired a number of baton rounds during last night's rioting in Belfast that left some 80 police officers and seven civilians injured in the nationalist Ardoyne area of the city.
A police spokesperson confirmed that a number of "attenuated energy projectiles" (AEPs) were fired during the distrubances. It is the first time baton rounds have been fired in a riot situation in over three years.
Each AEP round has a hollow "nose" which collapses on impact to reduce the risk of serious injury, according to a test report published by the Home Office earlier this year.
Clashes broke out last night after police used water cannon to disperse the crowds who had gathered to vent their anger against a contentious Orange march passed through the nationalist area earlier in the evening.
Sinn Féin Assembly member for North Belfast Gerry Kelly the situation in Ardoyne "was created by the demands of the Orange Order to march along this route and the Parades Commission acceding to that demand."
Mr Kelly said both the morning and the evening protests were peaceful. "On the return leg there was some minor stone throwing and insults exchanged between some young people and the marchers," he said.
"This was manageable. However the PSNI immediately intervened with a baton charge and water cannon. This action disempowered the local residents stewards and for a time control was lost.
He added: "The most remarkable aspect of last night's events in North Belfast is that lives were not lost."
Sinn Féin president Mr Gerry Adams also said he thought the police had been too quick to react against protesters and it was difficult to calm the situation down. Both Mr Adams and Mr Kelly were hit by water cannon as they tried to stop youths engaging in violence.
Police use water on rioters in Belfast last night
"When the police moved in what I think was quite a reckless manner, they took management completely away from the stewards," Mr Adams said.
"They brought the water cannon in too quickly, we should have been allowed to keep order.
"In a situation where people on the front line like myself, Gerry Kelly, different MLAs and Father (Aidan) Troy were completely soaked on six or seven different occasions."
But Superintendant Gary White, who was in charge of policing the Ardoyne area, said the response had been appropriate.
"I do not think anyone could throw the allegation at us tonight that we were heavy handed."
Some 60 Ardoyne residents had held a sit-down protest following a decision by the Parades Commission ruled to allow the march through the area.
They linked arms and chanted "we shall not be moved" as police in riot gear moved in to take them away them one by one.
Armoured police and British army vans lined the streets and shields were erected to allow the outward parade through.
SDLP West Belfast MLA Alex Attwood praised the police and condemned those responsible for the rioting.
He said: "The scenes are an utter disgrace. It is in complete contrast of the conduct of so many during the day including the police, the protesters and so many others.
"The rioters represent no one but a minority. Those responsible have a great deal to account for."
Tensions are running high this year after an attack on a Catholic home in Belfast at the weekend and as feuding grows between rival Protestant factions.
Police this morning warned motorists to avoid the Ardoyne area until debris is cleared from the area.
Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey said the parades' issue needed to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
"I am calling on the Secretary of State to take a grip on this and put it on the table for discussion in the autumn, because we need a solution.
"We can't allow what is an issue of cultural rights to be turned into a political football, and there has to be a consensus on how this is dealt with."