Northern Ireland: 47 police officers injured in clashes

At least 47 police officers were injured while trying to stop clashes between Protestant and Catholic rioters in the Northern Ireland capital Belfast on September 3.

Police in Northern Ireland said it was the first time they had used rubber bullets and water cannon to disperse crowds after rioters hurled petrol bombs, bottles and stones for 12 hours.

Police had to use rubber bullets and water cannons to disperse the crowd. (Source: AP)

In addition, rioters also hijacked a truck and crashed it into a police barricade, sending at least three people to hospital with serious injuries.

According to police sources, the clashes broke out after pro-British Protestant groups staged protests against Catholic parades. The conflict escalated when the two groups repeatedly demanded the right to hold parades in the area.

Violence between Catholics and Protestants, which flared and ebbed over the past three decades, has virtually ended since a peace deal was signed in 1998.

However, the conflict still smoldered and erupted in the summer months, when Protestants held street parades in Belfast to celebrate their victory over Catholics in the 1690 battle, a move that was considered a strong provocation to Catholics, causing riots to break out./.

According to (TTXVN) - DT