Open warfare burst out between the Protestant Shankill and the Roman Catholic Falls Road in Belfast early today. In Divit Street at the corner of the Falls Road, machine gun fire was heard and crowds threw themselves to the pavement when further bursts of fire came from police and from people in flats above the road. In Armagh, a man was shot dead during a riot following a meeting of civil rights supporters, and in Belfast two other men were killed in shooting incidents.
In Whitehall it is hoped that the need for the help of British troops may be confined to Londonderry. They would be withdrawn as soon as order is restored. An Inspector of Constabulary, Mr J McKay, is being sent from the Home Office to advise General Sir Ian Freeland, the General Officer Commanding (GOC ) in Northern Ireland, who is responsible directly to Westminster.
