BELFAST, Northern Ireland — Anti-immigration unrest erupted in parts of Belfast this week following the charging of a Sudanese asylum seeker with attempted murder in connection with the stabbing of a local man.
Police said the violence broke out across several neighbourhoods after tensions escalated online and within local communities, with groups of masked rioters gathering late into the evening. Officers reported that vehicles and rubbish bins were set on fire and used as barricades, blocking roads and disrupting movement in affected areas.
Authorities said the unrest quickly spread beyond initial flashpoints, with reports of attacks on immigrant households. Several homes were set alight or damaged, forcing families to flee as emergency services responded to multiple fire scenes. Fire crews worked through the night to contain the blazes, while police established cordons around affected streets.
Residents were evacuated with the assistance of firefighters, community volunteers and humanitarian workers, who helped relocate families to safer areas as tensions remained high.
Local officials warned against the spread of misinformation, saying it risked further inflaming already heightened community tensions.
A local pastor involved in supporting displaced residents told the BBC that some victims appeared to have been targeted on racial grounds, saying they were attacked “because they’re Black,” and described fear among families forced from their homes.
Police confirmed that additional officers had been deployed across the city to prevent further disorder, while investigations continue into both the stabbing incident and the subsequent unrest.
Authorities have urged calm and appealed for community cooperation as they work to restore order and identify those responsible.
— Horn Africa News (HAN)
