July 2001 Belfast riots
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| July 2001 Belfast riots | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 12 July 2001 | ||
| Location | Ardoyne, north Belfast, Northern Ireland | ||
| Casualties and losses | |||
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On 12 July 2001, major rioting and civil disorder broke out in Ardoyne, north Belfast, Northern Ireland. In some of the worst rioting in years, 113 police officers were injured in clashes which followed a July 12 parade. Police were attacked when trying clear the path for about 100 Orangemen returning from the parade to go along a main road passing the Catholic Ardoyne area.[1][2][3]
In the seven-hour riot which involved about 250 nationalist youth, two blast bombs and 263 petrol bombs were exploded, while a dozen vehicles were hijacked and 48 plastic bullets were shot by the police. Riot police also used water cannons. There were also incidents in east Belfast, Derry and Ballycastle, but the clashes in Ardoyne were by far the most serious.[4]
It came just weeks after loyalist rioting in the area during the Holy Cross dispute.