Police in Belfast use water cannon as anti-immigrant unrest continues

Belfast police deploy water cannon as anti-immigrant unrest enters second night

Police in Belfast used water cannon to disperse anti-immigrant protesters for a second consecutive night, as unrest sparked by a stabbing attack continued to grip the city. Demonstrators set small fires, hurled bricks, rocks and bottles, and tore paving stones from the streets to throw at riot police, according to multiple reports.

The violence, which began on Tuesday, was triggered by a knife attack in north Belfast on Monday that left a man seriously injured. A 30-year-old Sudanese national, Hadi Alodid, was charged with attempted murder in connection with the attack and appeared in court, where he was remanded in custody. The case was adjourned to July 8.

On Wednesday evening, police deployed water cannon near the Sandyknowes roundabout in Newtownabbey, north of Belfast, to disperse a crowd of about 300 people. The protesters, many wearing dark clothing and face coverings, had burned a truck and threw missiles at police vehicles. Rioters also attempted to set fire to a derelict property and lit wheelie bins, with some throwing petrol bombs at police lines.

While the second night saw fewer disturbances than the first, unrest was also reported in Derry and Coleraine. Several advertised protests, including one at Belfast City Hall, failed to materialise, and a protest at Stormont drew only dozens of people and passed off peacefully.

Coverage comparison

Reports from Al Jazeera, The Guardian, and the South China Morning Post broadly agree on the key events: the use of water cannon, the nature of the protests, and the charge against Alodid. The Guardian provided additional detail on the number of arrests and injuries, reporting that 12 police officers were injured and 16 arrests were made over the two nights. The Guardian also reported that police fired plastic bullets—17 projectiles, according to the police ombudsman—and received reinforcements of 200 additional officers from Great Britain.

The South China Morning Post, in its report, described the demonstrators as "unruly" and said they "tore bricks from the walls outside homes and smashed pavements with sledgehammers to toss at riot police." Al Jazeera's coverage emphasized the far-right nature of the protests and the family of the victim appealing for calm.

Key claims

• Police in Belfast used water cannon to disperse anti-immigrant protesters on Wednesday night, with reports of small fires, bricks, rocks and bottles being thrown at officers.
• A 30-year-old Sudanese man, Hadi Alodid, was charged with attempted murder in connection with a stabbing attack on Monday that left a man, Stephen Ogilvie, seriously injured. Alodid was remanded in custody.
• The stabbing attack triggered anti-immigrant violence that continued for a second night.
• Hilary Benn, the UK's minister for Northern Ireland, condemned the violence as "racist thuggery," saying that targeting people based on the colour of their skin could not be described any other way.
• Naomi Long, Northern Ireland's minister of justice, said "bad faith actors" had incited racism in Belfast, accusing people online of weaponising the attack to fuel anti-immigration sentiment.
• The family of the stabbing victim appealed for calm, saying they did not want the tragedy to be used to divide people or fuel hostility.

Perspectives

Hilary Benn (UK Minister for Northern Ireland): Described the violence as "racist thuggery" and said that people were being targeted because of the colour of their skin. He reported 12 police officers injured and 16 arrests.

Naomi Long (Northern Ireland Minister of Justice): Accused "bad faith actors" online of inciting racism and weaponising the attack, saying that driving people from their homes based on skin colour is racism.

Stephen Ogilvie's family: Appealed for calm, saying peaceful protest is the only way forward and that migrants make a valuable contribution to the country.

Police Service of Northern Ireland: Deployed water cannon and plastic bullets to maintain public order, and received reinforcements from Great Britain. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said an additional 200 officers were on the streets.

Northern Ireland Executive (joint statement): Condemned the disorder, saying it spread fear and risked innocent lives. First Minister Michelle O'Neill described it as "thuggery," and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said taking frustration out on those who had no part in the attack was "utterly wrong."