NEW : `` Those people had no intention of peaceful protest Warning of more to come , Chief Constable Matt Baggott said , `` Significant custodial sentences will be handed down in the weeks and months that follow -- the prisons will be bulging , sadly . '' , '' says top police officer . The government has been accused by the opposition and human rights groups of using excessive force against protesters in recent days. The violence broke out as loyalists staged protests against a nationalist march . Belfast 's main shopping district was the focus of the disturbances .
NEW : `` Those people had no intention of peaceful protest , '' says top police officer . The government has been accused by the opposition and human rights groups of using excessive force against protesters in recent days. The violence broke out as loyalists staged protests against a nationalist march . Belfast 's main shopping district was the focus of the disturbances .