The RUC Chief Constable has said the violence which left 113 officers and a number of civilians injured in north Belfast may have been orchestrated by the Provisional IRA.
A total of 263 petrol bombs and two blast bombs were thrown at police during seven hours of rioting in the nationalist Ardoyne area on Thursday night. The RUC moved into the area to ensure safe passage for Orangemen walking home from their Twelfth parade. Police used water cannons and fired 48 plastic baton rounds. Sir Ronnie Flanagan yesterday described the violence as "clearly orchestrated". Asked if he thought the IRA was behind it, the Chief Constable told the BBC: "I would think that is a line we would want to pursue very rigorously."
He added: "People do not spontaneously have to hand acid bombs, blast bombs and angle grinders to cut down lampposts to block roads."
The Sinn Fein MLA for North Belfast, Mr Gerry Kelly, who was present during the disturbances, accused the RUC of sparking the violence by "brutally invading" the area. He claimed police officers had attacked community stewards trying to calm the situation.
"People were beaten in their own gardens, there were plastic bullets fired and kids had to be evacuated because the water cannon was being imported," he added.
Sir Ronnie rejected claims that police officers had reacted "disproportionally" saying they were "the greatest victims" of intercommunal hatred.
The Northern Ireland security minister, Ms Jane Kennedy, paid tribute to the RUC. "They [police officers] have families who are fearful for their safety every night, as they see the ferocity of attacks on officers.
"We all owe them a debt of gratitude for their courage and endurance in holding the line between violent groups intent on conflict."
The DUP MP for North Belfast, Mr Nigel Dodds, echoed the Chief Constable's allegations that the violence was orchestrated which, he said, should be condemned by "all right-thinking people".
"This was not a question of two sides of the community and the police in the middle," he said. "This was an orchestrated attack by a tiny element of republicans determined to inflict serious injury, murderous injury, on the police."
However, a local SDLP councillor, Mr Martin Morgan, said serious questions had to be asked about police conduct during the incident. "A heavy and provocative police force operation was mounted against the people as a result of a 10-minute parade along the Crumlin Road . . . A more sensitive approach to policing could have avoided this situation and led to a peaceful night in Ardoyne."
The Alliance Party said nobody but the rioters were to blame for the disturbances. "Every individual in this society should be held responsible for their actions. All those who engage in violence do so out of their own free will."