Dissident republicans threw “petrol bombs” at marching Protestants
“Petrol bombs,” bricks, bottles and other flying objects injured dozens of police officers in Northern Ireland yesterday as Protestants marched through the Catholic enclave of Ardoyne. At least one officer is in hospital. Police deployed batons and water cannons to defend against masked men who threw explosive cocktails at the marchers from rooftops. Local nationalist politician Nichola Mallon told the Belfast Telegraph that residents object to the parade, but want nothing to do with the violent attacks on police. “It is clear that dissidents want to push residents into the front line of their own little war,” she said. “[Residents] have absolutely nothing to do with the political agenda of the petrolbombers.”