Police said bullets struck two houses in Alliance Avenue and Glenbryn Park on Friday.

Army bomb experts carried out a controlled explosion on an unexploded pipebomb in Glenbryn Park.

There were no reports of any injuries.

The incident is the latest in a number of attacks in the area.

Jim Barbour: Attacks were outrageous

Meanwhile, the ongoing street violence in north and east Belfast has been discussed at a meeting of Ulster Unionist Party assembly members and councillors.

Speaking after the meeting on Friday, Sir Reg Empey condemned the violence, which he said was a culmination of loyalist and republican led activity.

He also called for the introduction of CCTV cameras in the areas concerned and for such a measure to be supported by Sinn Fein.

Army technical officers dealt with nine devices and suspicious objects across Belfast following disturbances in the north of the city which left several people injured.

A fire officer was treated for shock after a blast bomb exploded near him in Glenbryn Park.

A man was treated for shrapnel injuries and shock and two other men also suffered shock after a blast bomb exploded near them.

Firefighters came under gun and bomb attack during sectarian clashes on Thursday.

Police were called to the largely Protestant Glenbryn area of Ardoyne at 1530 BST after fighting broke out between rival crowds.

Two fire engines were abandoned after firefighters were attacked with gunfire and blast bombs.

The firefighters had to make their escape on foot.

'Outrageous'

The Fire Service later confirmed firefighters were attacked but said all its vehicles had since been retrieved.

Fire Brigades Union spokesman Jim Barbour described the attack on his colleagues as "shocking".

"We were sent to respond to a fire call - it was a house fire in Glenbryn Park. Obviously it was a very serious incident in itself," he said.

"We believe it is absolutely shocking and outrageous that our firefighters, when they arrived at the scene, were caught up in gunfire and blast bomb attacks across the community.

"We are aware that a number of civilians have been injured and, indeed, one firefighter has been injured as well."

We are aware that a number of civilians have been injured and, indeed, one firefighter has been injured

Jim Barbour

Meanwhile, in a nearby area of north Belfast, the Army defused pipe bombs at Westland Road and the Crumlin Road.

A suspicious object found at Glenbryn Park was declared a hoax.

A further alert at the police headquarters at Knock in east Belfast has also ended.

The police said a suspect package was an innocent delivery.

A pipe bomb was made safe in the same area on Wednesday night.

There have been frequent sectarian clashes in the Ardoyne area over the past year, since the beginning of the Holy Cross Primary School stand off.

Loyalists stopped Catholic children going through their area to school, citing attacks on their homes by republicans as the reason.

The so-called peace wall in the area, dividing Catholics and Protestants, was extended and CCTV cameras put in place in an attempt to quell the violence.