Police reject riot claims

Police chiefs are denying they could have done more to prevent the rioting that erupted in north Belfast.

Extra officers had been brought into the area in anticipation of violence after the Scottish Cup Final between Rangers and Celtic.

A total of 28 officers and 10 civilians were injured when hundreds of people took the streets after the "Old Firm" derby.

But Superintendent David Boultwood insisted: "No matter how many police officers we had here last night it would have been very difficult to contain the large scale and widespread violence."

Detectives confirmed they have identified 15 people involved in the angry clashes between nationalist and loyalist mobs throughout north Belfast.

Police estimate that at one point more than 800 people were involved in the disturbances in flashpoint areas.

Around 40 plastic baton rounds were fired as the security forces fought to keep control.

Mr Boultwood described the rioting at Ardoyne shopfronts as savage, adding that his officers came under a massive and sustained attack.