POLICE have refuted Orange Order claims that marchers in east Belfast came under attack from nationalists in Short Strand because police held up the parade.
Assistant Chief Constable Will Kerr, pictured, said Orangemen had "slowed down purposefully" as they walked up the lower Newtownards Road and stopped for half an hour, in breach of the Parades Commission determination.
The Orange Order has insisted police were to blame for violence which erupted during the return of the Twelfth parade through east Belfast and past the Short Strand.
In a statement the order said there was a "premeditated and sustained attack on the parade from the Short Strand area" after a police Land Rover "believed to be gathering evidence for the Parades Commission, caused the parade to stop on several occasions as it progressed along the Newtownards Road".
"Paint bombs, stones and bottles rained down on the participants and spectators. Many were injured, several of them requiring hospital treatment," the statement read.
"One young bandswoman has a suspected fractured cheekbone, another female received 10 stitches to a leg wound. A full list of casualties is being collated.
"The onslaught left young children and many spectators traumatised. Considerable damage was also caused to banners and band uniforms as the parade returned home through what had become a riot. The riot was clearly the responsibility of those from the Short Strand who attacked the parade and its supporters."
However, Mr Kerr said "both sides were throwing missiles on the Twelfth of July evening in east Belfast. Of that I have no absolutely no doubt".
"The evidence I have seen and from speaking to senior police officers who were in charge of the policing operation on Friday evening in east Belfast - we have a fundamen-tally different position of that," he said.
"The Land Rover slowed down because people weaved and bobbed in front of it to stop it getting to its location.
"The parade stopped in Middlepath Street for at least half an hour against the Parades Commission determination and then it slowed down when it walked up the lower Newtownards Road.
"The parade slowed down, it slowed down purposefully, it slowed down where it shouldn't have slowed down and it slowed down in breach of the Parades Commission determination so let's be very clear about what the facts are of the circumstances of Friday night."
The DUP met Mr Kerr yesterday and afterwards former Belfast mayor Gavin Robinson said police had confirmed that "the first missiles thrown on the Twelfth of July in east Belfast emanated from Short Strand".
The day after the violence the PSNI said missiles had been traded as the parade made its way on to the lower Newtownards Road loyalists had targeted houses in the Short Strand.
A spokesman said eight officers protecting St Matthew's Catholic church were injured while colleagues in the Short Strand were attacked with missiles "thrown by individuals from within this community".