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Police knocked unconscious by rioters 'wielding swords and missiles' in Belfast

One officer has a suspected broken jaw and a number of people have been arrested.

(Image: Julien Behal/PA Wire)

OVER 30 POLICE officers and an MP in Northern Ireland have been injured in six hours of rioting in Belfast overnight.

The riots kicked off when police stopped an Orange Order march for the traditional Twelfth of July commemorations from passing through the nationalist area of Ardoyne.

Police said that officers in North Belfast were attacked by individuals "wielding swords and missiles, including heavy masonry, golf balls, bottles and fireworks". Four officers were taken to hospital for treatment to injuries in this area, three having been knocked unconscious. Another officer sustained head and leg injuries.

Police also confirmed that a missile thrown at police lines in North Belfast struck DUP MP Nigel Dodds, who is also understood to have been knocked unconscious.

In East Belfast, a total of 12 officers were injured after being attacked and targeted with missiles and petrol bombs. A Mutial Aid officer sustained a broken leg while a PSNI officer has a suspected broken jaw. Water cannons were deployed to try to push back the rioters.

Six people were arrested in the area for offences ranging from disorderly behaviour and resisting arrest to assault. A 39-year-old male was also arrested for "doing a provocative act".

A video, released by the police cervice, shows the kind of violence officers were faced with:

(Video: Police ServiceNI/YouTube)

Today Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore condemned the violence and "disrespect for the rule of law" which he said was an affront to the decent people of the city.

"We are at one in our commitment and determination to uphold the law and support the police," he said. "Our thoughts in particular are with those who were injured upholding the peace."

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    Mute Paul Linehan
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    Mar 9th 2019, 12:01 PM

    I bet when she was 16 she thought people in their thirties were old…. Now those in their eighties would probably be young ones. She obviously has a great enthusiasm for life. Fair play to her, I hope she breaks the record.

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    Mute Damien Barton
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    Mar 9th 2019, 12:21 PM

    If she lived in Ireland they prob be after taking her off the pension by now

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    Mute Yuko Conlon
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    Mar 9th 2019, 1:20 PM

    @Damien Barton: You prob do not know the amount of the state pension in Japan is about €450 a month, less than a half compared to what Irish pensioners receive.

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    Mute Mary Elizabeth Whittle
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    Mar 9th 2019, 1:23 PM

    @Damien Barton: might even have to start paying tax again!

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    Mute Damien Barton
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    Mar 9th 2019, 1:44 PM

    @Mary Elizabeth Whittle:maybe get put on a back to work scheme

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    Mute Early Cuyler
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    Mar 9th 2019, 11:50 AM

    Eat lots of fish.

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    Mute Dougal67
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    Mar 9th 2019, 6:36 PM

    Her parents said they’re delighted for her

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    Mute Francis Devenney
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    Mar 9th 2019, 1:45 PM

    Jeanne Louise Calment was being interviewed on her 121st birthday and was asked about her still drinking wine and smoking she replied “When I was 114 the doctor tells me “Jeanne Louise you must give up smoking and drinking” I told him “I’m to old to be that f***ing miserable”"

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    Mute Jaycee Laycee
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    Mar 9th 2019, 11:54 AM

    Funny that global life expectancy is predicted to increase hand in hand with rising global emissions…..

    https://www.un.org/development/desa/publications/graphic/wpp2017-global-life-expectancy

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    Mute Brendan Cooney
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    Mar 9th 2019, 11:59 AM

    @Jaycee Laycee: correlation is not proof of causation. Simple concept but so often confused.

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    Mute Ashish Uday Lal
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    Mar 9th 2019, 12:00 PM

    @Jaycee Laycee: maybe science will continue to maximise human longevity, but global warming will lead to more sudden deaths through severe weather events. I don’t think climate change is contributing to increasing lifespans, do you?

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    Mute Dave Byrne
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    Mar 9th 2019, 1:18 PM

    @Jaycee Laycee: Yes, advances in medical science are amazing aren’t they?

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    Mute Brian Ó Dálaigh
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    Mar 9th 2019, 9:06 PM

    @Jaycee Laycee: funny that, because in the US, one of the highest per capita sources of greenhouse emissions, life expectancy has started to fall. As was mentioned by another commenter, the two statistics are entirely unrelated.

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    Mute Al coholic
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    Mar 9th 2019, 12:28 PM

    Poisoned chalice she’s fecked

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    Mute Patti o furniture
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    Mar 9th 2019, 9:15 PM

    Switching to Guinness woo

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