Belfast Burning

Good grief! Looks like I picked the right time to go to Belfast... Last year.

BELFAST, Northern Ireland — About 40 police officers were injured trying to break up a five-hour riot by Protestant militants who burned 10 cars and a double-decker bus in Belfast, officials said Friday.

Police said the rioters threw scores of gasoline bombs and at least one homemade grenade and tried to drive one hijacked vehicle into police lines late Thursday. Heavily armored police in flame-retardant suits suffered a range of injuries, none life-threatening.

Officers fired 11 baton rounds, or "plastic bullets," in response. No civilians were reported injured, although it is typical for people lightly injured while rioting to avoid hospitals for fear of being arrested.

"We faced a very violent situation that was life-threatening at times. ... We had so many petrol bombs thrown at our lines, we stopped counting," said Assistant Chief Constable Wesley Wilson, who commanded the police operation.

I didn't see that much of Belfast, but I enjoyed what I saw. The people I met were very pleasant. Hopefully things will calm down there soon.