Northern Ireland riots – Seven police hurt after petrol bomb attacks, street battles and scary bus hijack in Belfast

A NIGHT of violence in Northern Ireland has left seven police officers injured.

Riots broke out in Belfast overnight with petrol bomb attacks, running street battles and bus hijacking.

The bus was set alight after being pelted with petrol bombs at the junction of Lanark Way and Shankill Road in west Belfast, cops said.

It was one of a number of violent incidents unfolding on the peace line street that links the loyalist Shankill Road with the nationalist Springfield Road.

Writing on Twitter, Boris Johnson said: “I am deeply concerned by the scenes of violence in Northern Ireland, especially attacks on PSNI who are protecting the public and businesses, attacks on a bus driver and the assault of a journalist.

“The way to resolve differences is through dialogue, not violence or criminality.”

It follows several nights of unrest in loyalist communities amid tensions over the Northern Ireland Protocol on Brexit and the PSNI’s handling of alleged coronavirus regulation breaches by Sinn Fein at the funeral of republican Bobby Storey.

Stones were thrown at police while a press photographer was assaulted nearby.

Later on, the gates of the peace line on Lanark Way were opened, leading to clashes between loyalists and nationalists.

Read our Belfast riots live blog below for the latest news and updates…