
This is the moment dozens of police officers worked together to lift a car off a seriously injured 16-year-old girl who was hit as the vehicle reversed into the crowd after violence flared following an Orange Order parade in Belfast.

At least eight Northern Irish police officers have been injured after being pelted by bottles, beer cans, bricks and other missiles, as Protestant loyalists reacted angrily when a cordon was erected to stop the annual parade from passing a Catholic estate.

The 16-year-old girl trapped underneath the car has now been taken to hospital and her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Officers said the driver of the vehicle has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and an investigation is underway after the girl was hit outside shops in Ardoyne.

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Police lifted a car off a seriously injured 16-year-old girl who was hit as it reversed into the crowd after violence flared following an Orange Order parade in Belfast

The 16-year-old girl has been taken to hospital, but the extent of her injuries are unknown after she hit outside shops in Ardoyne

Holy Cross parish priest Father Gary Donegan spoke to UTV at the scene and said that she had suffered neck and head injuries.

'She's able to move her legs, thankfully,' he said, before continuing to appeal for calm.

'If you've no reason to be here, leave the area. We've already seen this almost tragic incident that could have resulted in a fatality.'

PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton took to social media to later confirm that the girl's injuries were not life-threatening.

Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly said: 'It could have been much worse - she was very lucky.

'But this incident angered the crowd and rumours spread very quickly and people thought we may have been dealing with a fatality.'

Speaking about the violence in the city, Mr Kelly added: 'Most people are disappointed and angry at what has happened. This situation should de-escalate and people should go home.

'We could all be political about this. I don't want to be. The sooner people go home, then the rest of us can go home.'

Officers said the driver of the vehicle has been arrested and an investigation is underway after the girl was hit outside shops

The teenager was seen being carried into an ambulance on a stretcher by a two paramedics after the crash in Ardoyne

Police Federation NI chairman Mark Lindsay said: 'These rioters had obviously come prepared to cause disorder.

'Once again, officers demonstrated their patience and professionalism even though their lines were under attack.

'The scenes we witnessed were deplorable and shameful. The behaviour of those who viciously targeted police lines was mindless and unacceptable.

'Like others, I would appeal for calm. My thoughts are with my colleagues who were injured and those hundreds of officers who continue to work to bring order to challenging interface areas.'

The Orange Order also condemned the rioters, with a spokesman for the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland: 'Those involved in violence should desist.

'It is not only counter-productive but also plain wrong. Such actions are only strengthening the hand of those who wish to further curtail our parades.'

The driver of the car is arrested and taken into custody after his vehicle knocked down a 16-year-old girl outside some shops

Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Martin said an investigation into the circumstances of the crash is now under way

Protesters started fires as pitched battles were held with police in riot gear throughout the afternoon and into the evening yesterday

Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Martin said: 'I would appeal for calm and ask that space be given to the medics attending the scene. An investigation into the circumstances is now under way.'

Thousands of Pro-British Protestants hold marches every July 12 in the British-ruled province to mark a 1690 victory by King William of Orange that sealed Protestant domination, a tradition Catholic Irish nationalists consider provocative.

Riot police fired water cannons and plastic bullets at the crowd after a police officer was struck and injured. A crowd of Catholics stood hundreds of metres away, separated from the rioters by the police cordon.

At one point a number of loyalists broke through police lines and started dancing on the bonnets of PSNI armoured land rovers.

A bus transporting Orangemen was also stoned as it passed through Greysteel, Co Londonderry, earlier this evening, but no one was seriously injured in the incident.

Loyalist bandsmen played the sectarian Famine Song, which is played to the same tune as the Beach Boys' Sloop John B, but with anti-Catholic lyrics. They also played well-known loyalist tune The Sash.

Police have been pelted with bricks, bolts, bottles and pieces of masonry yesterday with at least one officer seriously injured

At least eight Northern Irish police officers have been injured after being pelted by bottles, beer cans, bricks and other missiles

A spokesman for the Police Service of Northern Ireland said officers have been under 'sustained attack' following the parade

A woman is comforted by Father Gary Donegan who said the 16-year-old girl suffered head and neck injuries

Riot police fired water cannons and plastic bullets at the crowd after a police officer was struck and seriously injured

Ahead of the parade, senior police commanders expressed concern that Orange Order and other loyalist groups had withdrawn marshals

Women and children mixed among the bandsmen and Orange Orange members in the massed crowd barracking the police lines.

This is the third year in a row that the Parades Commission have refused the Orange Order permission for the return route.

The Orange Order, which is the main Unionist organisation in Northern Ireland, condemned the rioters and appealed for calm.

'Those involved in violence should desist,' said a spokesman for the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland.

'It is not only counter-productive but also plain wrong. Such actions are only strengthening the hand of those who wish to further curtail our parades. We call on anyone engaged in illegal behaviour to stop immediately.'

The violence followed a day of largely peaceful Twelfth of July holiday loyal order parades across Northern Ireland - the highlight of the loyalist marching season.

A massive security operation had been mounted at the Woodvale and Ardoyne sectarian interface, where dissident republicans have gathered to attack police in the past.

A massive security operation had been mounted at the Woodvale and Ardoyne sectarian interface, where dissident republicans have gathered to attack police in the past

Thousands of Pro-British Protestants hold marches every July 12 in the British-ruled province to mark a 1690 victory by King William of Orange

The Government-appointed Parades Commission - set up to rule on contentious marches - had issued a determination barring Orangemen from a section of the Crumlin Road.

Last year there was no rioting but, in 2013 - when restrictions were first imposed on the Orange parade - mass violence erupted in the unionist Woodvale area.

Since then, loyalists have manned a protest camp and staged nightly parades at Woodvale, requiring a policing operation costing millions.

In previous years republicans rioted when the parade was allowed to pass up the road on the way back from Belfast's main Twelfth commemoration.

Ahead of the parade, senior police commanders expressed concern that Orange Order and other loyalist groups had withdrawn marshals who helped keep the peace last year.

Unlike last year, there was not a joint call from a broad range of unionist and loyalist political parties, including two with links to paramilitary groups, for the Twelfth to pass off peacefully and lawfully.

However, there were calls for calm from individual political representatives and leaders of the Orange institution.

At one point a number of loyalists broke through police lines and started dancing on the bonnets of PSNI armoured land rovers

A loyalist broke through a police barrier and threw a set of step ladders at police officers after Orangemen are prevented from marching