Police in NIreland see Belfast riots petering out after 4th night of trouble; 2 arrested

Northern Ireland police say Belfast riots waning

BELFAST, Northern Ireland — Police commanders say rioting that has convulsed Irish Catholic districts in Belfast appears to be petering out after four nights of attacks on police that have left more than 80 officers wounded.

A Belfast deputy commander, Duncan McCausland, says rioting Wednesday night and Thursday morning in the Ardoyne district of north Belfast involved “a substantially smaller group of people.” Two rioters were arrested, while other riot-hit districts were quiet overnight.

McCausland says the Ardoyne rioters “include a hardened core of around 12 people who are intent on causing disorder.”

Police have adopted defensive tactics throughout the riots. Static lines of police in helmets and armor have prevented Catholic rioters from reaching Protestant districts.