Police pelted with missiles by gang in Belfast

A number of police officers were injured during an attack by a gang of around 100 missile-throwing youths in Northern Ireland.

A total of nine officers sustained minor injuries after trouble flared in the Broadway area of Belfast last night, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said.

The attack saw around 21 petrol bombs and a variety of other missiles hurled at the authorities. It came during the Queen's two-day Diamond Jubilee visit to the country.

Earlier in the day, one person was injured during another disturbance in the west Belfast area.

Republicans had erected an Irish flag and a sign which said "Eriu is our Queen" on Black Mountain.

A confrontation is believed to have ensued over the sign at around 6pm with one person taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Eriu is a goddess in Irish mythology.

Police said they believed the disorder in Broadway was caused by individuals trying to take advantage of the tensions in the Black Mountain area.

A PSNI spokeswoman said: "Localised disorder in the Broadway area last night was police believe criminal elements trying to take advantage of tensions and events in the Black Mountain area to attack officers.

"Police do not believe this attack was orchestrated."

The Broadway area quickly returned to calm following the trouble, with police praising local community representatives for their help.

PA