Paramilitary groups are believed to have been “an element” in scenes of disorder in Belfast on Monday night following an anti-immigration protest.
Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said she “has no doubt there is a paramilitary element”, describing scenes on Monday of younger adults appearing to be directed by older people.
Speaking at a press conference at PSNI headquarters in east Belfast, Ms Jones said: “We have an open mind as to who is orchestrating and organising this.
“What we saw last night, we feel was different from what we saw on Saturday. On Saturday, we saw mainly older adult people who became involved in disorder.
“Last night it was clear to us that there was a younger element, teenagers mainly, who were involved in the disorder, but that there was an element of organisation and orchestration from what appeared to be older adults present at the scene.
“I have no doubt there is a paramilitary element to this, but I am not in a position to say that this is the main organiser or orchestrator of these events. However, we do keep an open mind to this and this will be part of our investigative strategy.”
It has emerged that during the unrest, attackers stamped on a man’s head in an assault police are treating as a hate crime.
The man in his 50s was assaulted in the Donegall Road and Oban Street area of Belfast on Monday night while members of the public attempted to protect him, police said.
A spokesman said: “His condition is described as serious and we are treating his attack as a hate crime.”
The PSNI fired plastic bullets – officially known as Attenuating Energy Projectiles (AEPs) – during further outbreaks of racist violence in Belfast - with one rioter struck on the hand.
Riot police and a drone were deployed to the Sandy Row and Donegall Road areas of the city on Monday evening.
More than 200 people were involved in the recurrence of violence, during which petrol bombs, bricks, and bottles were thrown at the PSNI, by a crowd which included mask-wearing youths.
A large crowd also gathered outside Belfast’s Islamic centre, on University Road, until the early hours of the morning.
A section of the rioters then attempted to set a supermarket, badly damaged on Saturday, on fire for a second time. This was prevented by riot police using water and fire extinguishers.
It is understood, PSNI has seconded two water cannons from the An Garda Síochána. However, these were not used on Monday night.
On Monday morning, four men appeared in court following disorder in Belfast over the weekend. They were remanded in custody.
On Monday evening, a small anti-immigration protest was held at the Clayton Hotel in Belfast. It was met by counter demonstrators and dispersed shortly after 6pm.