Police attacked in Belfast protests (From Times Series)

Police attacked in Belfast protests

3:25pm Saturday 12th January 2013 in National News © Press Association 2013

Police have come under attack during fresh violence linked to the Union flag in Belfast.

Bricks, bottles and other missiles were hurled in east Belfast on Saturday afternoon, an eyewitness said.

Trouble erupted close to a nationalist interface as loyalists were returning from a city centre protest.

Political leaders from Belfast, Dublin and London are due to gather next week to discuss the unrest over restrictions on the flying of the flag from Belfast City Hall.

Two officers were injured during disorder in the Castlereagh Street area of east Belfast and taken to hospital for treatment, a Police Service of Northern Ireland spokesman said. Riot police fired one non-lethal round.

Rocks and fireworks were thrown at the Albertbridge Road near the nationalist Short Strand area.

Officers moved in to separate the crowds but the trouble is continuing.

Police have brought two water cannon to the area.

Earlier, nearly 1,000 people gathered at Belfast City Hall to protest. Some roads in the city centre have been closed and police are advising motorists to avoid the area.

The PSNI said four officers have now been injured during disorder in the Castlereagh Street area of east Belfast this afternoon. Water cannon has been deployed.