Shots fired and 700 involved in second night of Belfast rioting

Three shots were fired in the lower Newtownards Road-Short Strand area but the gunman's target was not known. A photographer was hit in the leg, and police urged the media to stay away.

A barrage of petrol bombs, missiles and fireworks were thrown at police lines, in what is being reported as the worst trouble in the area for a decade.

The BBC has reported that a man was struck with a brick on Tuesday night and suffered a fractured skull. Two other males were injured. They are believed to have suffered burn injuries.

There was a large police presence, which followed Monday's sectarian clashes and two water canon vehicles arrived. Roads were closed and police advised motorists to avoid the area. Officers fired a number of plastic baton rounds at rioters.

The photographer - who works for a press agency - was said to be in a stable condition in the casualty department of the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. His injuries are not lifethreatening.

Police appealed for all media to stay out of east Belfast "for their own safety".

Earlier on Tuesday, a senior police officer described shots aimed at officers during rioting in east Belfast on Monday night as "attempted murder".

Ch Supt Alan McCrum said the trouble had been "orchestrated" by loyalist paramilitary group the UVF. Two men were treated in hospital for gun shot wounds. A total of 11 shots were fired - six from the nationalist side and five from loyalists.

Two shots hit a police Land Rover. Police said it was "clearly an attempt to murder police officers". Petrol bombs, fireworks, bricks, stones and smoke bombs were thrown and homes were damaged during the disturbances.

The PSNI said between 400 to 500 people had been involved in the disorder.

Ch Supt McCrum said the trouble started after a group of young men came out of the loyalist Mount and Castlereagh Street areas, and made their way into the Catholic enclave of Short Strand.