30 police officers hurt in Belfast riots

BELFAST, Northern Ireland, July 12 (UPI) -- Officials blamed dissidents for violence during riots in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in which as many as 30 police officers were injured.

The violence erupted during the Protestant Eleventh Night celebrations, The Guardian reported Monday.

Water cannons were deployed to try to separate nationalist youths rioting with loyalists, police said. At least one vehicle was set on fire near a hospital.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland said trouble was "orchestrated," while Sinn Fein blamed dissident republicans, the British publication said.

Mark Hamilton, chief police superintendent, said citizens in northern and western Belfast tried to help police stop the violence.

However, Hamilton said, some people seemed "hell-bent on wrecking their own communities."

Brian Rea, acting chairman of the Northern Ireland policing board, condemned the violence, saying, "This is very shocking news and the level of violence directed at police must be condemned. At this time I would call for calm right across the community."

Sinn Fein lawmaker Gerry Kelly said the dissident group Continuity IRA was behind the trouble, both in Broadway and in north Belfast.

"The people of the area are absolutely against it," Kelly said. "They don't give any succor to it."