`Variety of missiles' found in north Belfast

The British army has recovered a "variety of missiles" near the Ardoyne shops in north Belfast, the PSNI has said. A contentious Orange march is due to pass through the area this evening.

There was a large security presence in the Ardoyne this morning when the parade passed to the shouts of a hundreds of nationalist protesters.

We have very clear information that large numbers of republican youths are being bussed into the area by republican paramilitaries and that large quantities of petrol bombs and acid bombs are being manufactured PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Alan McQuillan

The spokesman said among the find were twenty foot lengths of reinforcing bars, angle iron cut into two-foot lengths, bricks bottles, star-shaped spiked metal objects, and a quantity of metal roofing.

Last night the Assistant Chief Constable Alan McQuillan said republicans were planning to bring hundreds of youths into north Belfast by bus to attack the security forces.

He said a republican paramilitary organisation is planning violence on a major scale at a protest in Ardoyne. The violence is aimed at disrupting an Orange Order march which is set to pass through the area, he said.

Although Mr McQuillan said he would not be specific about which group was behind it, he noted the IRA was the major paramilitary organisation in Ardoyne.

Mr McQuillan appealed to Sinn Féin leaders to hold a peaceful and legitimate protest on the biggest day in the Orange calendar.

Police have uncovered hundreds of petrol bombs being made ready in north Belfast ahead of the Twelfth of July parades.

"We have very clear information that large numbers of republican youths are being bussed into the area by republican paramilitaries and that large quantities of petrol bombs and acid bombs are being manufactured," Mr McQuillan said.

"We are saying that a republican paramilitary organisation is clearly organising and is directly behind this."

But Sinn Féin North Belfast Councillor Margaret McClenaghan said Mr McQuillan's comments are an excuse to swamp the Ardoyne area with police and army. "Where are all these buses that have come in? He is trying to gain credibility because we expect this area to be saturated with police very shortly."

Shortly after Mr McQuillan's warning seven armed loyalist paramilitaries staged a show of strength in front of a bonfire in the Protestant Shankhill road area of west Belfast.

PA