Police in riot gear have been deployed in Belfast city centre after anti-immigration and anti-racism protesters clashed.
One man was arrested amid tense scenes at City Hall, as unrest in English towns and cities following a fatal knife attack in Southport spread to Northern Ireland.
Fireworks and other missiles have been thrown.
One local councillor condemned the “disgusting scenes from far-right thugs”.
Hundreds of people gathered at 11.30am for the Unity Over Division rally, in support of Muslim communities. Some in the crowd held banners saying ‘no to racism’ and ‘refugees are welcome’.
Soon afterwards, anti-Islamic protesters also gathered at the front of City Hall. The group chanted “Islam out” and unfurled Union flags.
Police are mounting a significant security operation in the area.
Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, who were killed in the attack.
PSNI Land Rovers formed a barrier between the anti-racism rally and anti-Islamic protesters gathered nearby.
Officers were seen arresting one man, who was taken away in a PSNI car.
One set of protesters chanted “refugees are welcome here”, with heckling from the rival crowd, some of whom shouted “send them back”.
At least one man was seen giving Nazi salutes.
Some protesters carried a Coolock Says No sign, in reference to a site in Dublin that was being renovated to accommodate asylum seekers.
Belfast Lord Mayor Micky Murray said: “We live in a diverse and welcoming city, one which embraces those coming to build a life here. Racism isn’t in our blood, it’s a harmful disease which needs stamped out.”
Anthony Flynn, a local Green Party councillor, also condemned the trouble.
He posted on X: “Absolutely disgusting scenes from the far-right thugs throwing fireworks, stones, and other missiles towards a peaceful anti-fascist rally.
“These people are not Belfast. They will exploit any situation to spread their vile hatred. Thanks to PSNI for keeping all safe.”
Several roads have also been closed.
The PSNI said: “Road users are advised that College Square East and Wellington Place are currently closed due to ongoing protest activity in the area.”
In a further update, they added: “Road users are advised that the lane to Shore Road from Fortwilliam roundabout has been closed due to ongoing protest activity in the area. Delays are to be expected in the area.”
Video footage seen by this newspaper also showed protests on the Boucher Road, causing road closures.
Police said they are monitoring a series of planned protests.
It added: “The Police Service of Northern Ireland is aware of several planned protests across Northern Ireland today and will be in attendance to ensure the safety of everyone involved.
“Officers will remain in the area and continue to monitor the situation.”
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Disorder has hit parts of England this week, including in London, Manchester, Southport and Hartlepool, after the killing of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club on Merseyside.
The victims were Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine.
Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, 17, from Lancashire, is accused of the attack, but false claims spread online that the suspect was an asylum seeker who had arrived in the UK by boat.
Amid growing tension and reports of anti-Islamic protests, an anti-racism rally was organised at City Hall this morning.
Union leader Mick Lynch addressed the anti-racism rally, saying society “refused to be divided”.
“We won’t let these people get amongst us and cause us to hate each other – we love each other,” he said, to cheers from the crowd.
“We will not allow the right wing to dominate our working class communities.”
Also among the speakers was Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland director.
Speaking ahead of the rally, he said society will reject those seeking to spread division and hatred.
“From Belfast, we send our support and compassion to all those affected by the awful tragedy in Southport, to the families and friends of the girls who so tragically lost their lives in the most terrible circumstances and to the children and adults who were injured and are still in hospital,” he said.
“Some people have sought to cynically exploit that unspeakable tragedy in order to sow division and hatred, but those who seek to divide us do not know us.
“To the hate-mongers, I have a message for you today from the people of Belfast and from every community across these islands.
“The more you try to divide us, the more united we grow. The more hate you try to stoke, the more love we will show to our neighbours.
“We stand in solidarity with the Muslim community, with the refugee community and with every community which is reeling from attack or feeling the fear of threat and intimidation.
“Belfast is a city of love. We stand as one.”
Earlier this week, Chief Constable Jon Boutcher urged people in society to push back against the “poisonous nonsense” being propagated by those seeking to organise demonstrations against the Islamic faith, adding if they do happen they will be “policed effectively”.
Religious leaders in Northern Ireland also issued calls for calm.
Rev Trevor Gribben, from the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, said: “Hatred against any section of the community is indeed poisonous, and is not only wrong, but entirely anti-Christian.”
Bishop of Down and Connor Alan McGuckian warned against “stoking the coals of fear and mistrust against Muslims”.
“Particularly in Northern Ireland, we have journeyed so far from a history of conflict and live now in a place that is rightly moving towards mutual respect, dialogue and tolerance,” he said.
People protest in Sunderland city centre following the stabbing attacks on Monday in Southport,
On Friday, hundreds of people gathered in Keel Square in Sunderland, many of them draped in England flags, some of whom chanted support of Tommy Robinson, while others shouted insults about Islam.
A mosque was targeted and separate footage on social media, said to have also been filmed in Sunderland, appeared to show a -man with a swastika tattoo on his back.
Northumbria Police Chief Superintendent Mark Hall said four of the force’s officers were injured.
He said: “I can confirm that four officers were taken to hospital for treatment last night.
“Three received injuries as a direct result of the disorder.
“In addition, one of our mounted riders sustained serious injuries in an accident and is receiving treatment in hospital.”
Mr Hall described the violent protests in Sunderland as “unforgivable”.
He said: “The shocking scenes we witnessed in Sunderland last night were appalling and completely unacceptable.
“During the course of the evening, our officers were met with serious and sustained levels of violence.
“This was not a protest – this was unforgivable violence and disorder.”
The number of arrests as a result of the Sunderland violence has risen to 10, he added.
Disorder also broke out in Southport on Tuesday evening, where thousands of people had turned out to pay their respects to the three victims.
But violence later erupted outside a mosque in the town with 53 police officers and three police dogs injured, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer later condemning “thugs” who had travelled to the town to cause unrest.
On Wednesday evening, more than 100 protesters were arrested on Whitehall, where bottles and cans were pelted at police, while violence also broke out in Hartlepool, Co Durham, and in Manchester.