BELFAST, Northern Ireland, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Protestant loyalists rampaged in Belfast, blocking roads, throwing homemade bombs and fireworks and firing at police officers.
The rioting was the worst in Northern Ireland in several years.
Sir Hugh Orde, the chief constable, told the BBC that gunmen apparently were trying to kill police officers. At least six officers were injured. Police fired rubber bullets and several live rounds into the crowds.
The violence broke out Saturday night after a disputed parade organized by the Protestant Orange Order. Orde said that the Orange Order bears much of the responsibility for the violence.
The Orange Order called the police response "brutal and heavy-handed."
Rioting also occurred in some villages in County Antrim outside Belfast.
About 1,000 police officers and 1,000 soldiers struggled to quell the violence.
Police also discovered a bomb factory and arms cache.
