700 RIOTERS ATTACK POLICE; Shankill erupts in night of violence after RUC seize drugs in swoop.

Byline: MAURICE FITZMAURICE

MORE than 700 rioters clashed with police last night after a drugs raid on a home.

Angry mobs attacked officers after the swoop uncovered cannabis as well as a primed pipe bomb and blank firing pistols.

Two RUC officers and a soldier were injured as scores of petrol bombs and at least three blast bombs were hurled at the security forces on Belfast's Lower Shankill Road. One man was arrested.

An RUC spokesman said that a number of cars were also hijacked as the rioting spiralled out of control and drivers were warned to avoid the area.

The violence occurred close to Johnny Adair's UDA C Company heartland. But last night it was unclear if the attacks were organised by local terror bosses.

The initial search began at around 6.40pm. But late last night angry crowds were still on the streets.

The two officers received ear injuries when a large firework exploded at the back of their Land Rover.

A member of the Scots Guards had to receive hospital treatment after being hit in the face with a missile.

Army technical officers were called to the scene to examine the pipe bomb, one of a type commonly used by loyalist paramilitaries to target Catholic homes.

During the search, police later found three blank-firing pistols, a quantity of ammunition, a timer power unit, pounds 900 worth of cannabis and paramilitary-style regalia.

But last night independent councillor for the area Frank McCoubrey accused the police of heavy handed tactics.

Mr McCoubrey said: "I watched with my own eyes as 35 Land Rovers arrived in the street.

"Following the search, which lasted about half an hour, they came back out and for no reason the DMSU went over and attacked a crowd of women who were watching what was going on.

"Up until then there had been a bit of verbal abuse, but nothing serious. There was a total over-reaction by the police.

"One guy in the back of a Land Rover even started insulting me. He called me an Orange Bastard in front of the solicitor I was with, but I will be taking it up with the Ombudsman tomorrow."

A police spokesman dismissed claims that officers were heavy handed.

The spokesman said: "Officers trying to carry out a search came under a sustained attack while carrying out their duty. The fact there were so many petrol bombs thrown as well as blast bombs and three people injured are statistics that speak for themselves."