Belfast descended into its second consecutive night of anti-immigrant violence on Wednesday as masked mobs torched homes and cars, hurling bricks and petrol bombs at police who responded with water cannons. The unrest, which erupted after a brutal stabbing attack on Monday, has now spread beyond the city, with rioters in Derry setting fires on the Ardmore Road . Authorities reported at least 12 arrests as the violence showed no sign of abating.

Rioters, many wearing balaclavas, targeted immigrant communities across Belfast, smashing windows and setting vehicles ablaze. In one incident, demonstrators used sections of a dismantled picket fence as makeshift shields while hurling paving stones and Molotov cocktails at officers . Police deployed water cannons for the second straight evening, dispersing crowds in the Shankill and Falls Road areas, traditional flashpoints for sectarian tension. Schools in the city were closed on Thursday, and public transport services remained suspended amid fears of further unrest.

The violence was triggered by Monday’s knife attack in east Belfast, in which a 30-year-old Sudanese man allegedly stabbed a local man in what police have described as a “brutal and unprovoked” assault. The suspect, who appeared in court on Wednesday charged with attempted murder, remains in custody . The victim’s family issued a statement on Wednesday, saying they were “disgusted” by the disorder and urging calm. “This is not what we want,” a spokesperson told local media. “We just want justice for our son.”

Politicians across the spectrum condemned the riots. Northern Ireland’s First Minister, Michelle O’Neill, described the scenes as “shameful” and called for an end to the violence. “These attacks on our communities are unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” she said in a statement. Opposition leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson urged restraint, warning that “far-right agitators” were exploiting the incident to stoke division. Social media footage of the stabbing, which went viral within minutes, has been widely cited as a catalyst for the unrest, with far-right groups amplifying calls for retaliation .

The unrest has drawn international attention, with the European Union’s foreign policy chief calling for “de-escalation and respect for the rule of law.” Meanwhile, in Southampton, far-right protesters staged a separate demonstration demanding the deportation of migrants, underscoring the broader climate of hostility across the UK . As Belfast braces for a potential third night of violence, community leaders are pleading for dialogue to prevent further bloodshed. “We cannot let fear and hatred dictate our future,” said Paddy Smyth, a local councillor. “This city has seen enough division.”

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Articles

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theguardian · 2 days ago

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[lalibre] Nouvelle nuit de manifestations à Belfast, la police utilise un canon à eau #Europe

mastodon bot · 2 days ago

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bluesky bot · 2 days ago

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