Several cars, a building and bins have been set on fire in Sandy Row as a day of sporadic disorder in Belfast continues to escalate.
Earlier today, police arrested two people and businesses were attacked with missiles thrown at PSNI officers during trouble linked to an anti-immigration march.
New images from the disorder show bins set on fire in the Sandy Row area with Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue appliances on the scene.
Firefighters are also pictured at the scene of a cafe, Bash Cafe which appears to have been set on fire.
In a statement, the PSNI asked the public to avoid the area alongside Donegall Road.
“Police are dealing with ongoing disorder in the Donegall Road area of south Belfast tonight. An update will be provided in due course.”
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly noted the right to protest but slammed escalating violence.
“Northern Ireland must always be a place that protects the right to protest, the right to have a view and to express it,” she said.
“Let’s be VERY clear – violence is not acceptable. It never was and it is not now. No one, NO ONE, has the right to express hate and violence. Stop it now.”
Earlier, rival groups staged demonstrations in the city centre as unrest following the fatal knife attack in Southport, in which three young girls were killed, spread to Northern Ireland.
At one stage police formed a large cordon around the Islamic Centre on University Street as a march headed towards the area.
South Belfast MLA Deirdre Hargey said she was disgusted at the actions of what she branded a “fascist mob”.
Another councillor branded the culprits “far-right thugs”.
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Several businesses around Botanic Avenue were targeted.
Windows were smashed and furniture broken at the Sahara shisha cafe.
Its owner Rahmi, who has been in Belfast for 35 years, said he did not “know how to explain” what happened to his children.
He told the BBC it was “terrible” that his business had been attacked for “no reason”.
While he was not “blaming anybody”, he said there “was no safety at all” and felt there could have been more of a police presence when “the parade was walking” through the area.
Thugs also smashed windows at the Holiday Inn and Dukes at Queen’s Hotel on University Street.
Police are treating the incidents as hate crimes.
Chief Superintendent Stephen Murray said: “We have dealt with a number of protest sites across Northern Ireland today, including a significant protest and counter protest at Belfast City Hall.
“Many of these caused disruption to the road network. A number of roads, including the M5, Wellington Place and Shore Road were closed for a short period of time.
“We continue to deal with protest activity and sporadic disorder in the South Belfast area and are aware of a number of reports of criminal damage which we are currently treating as hate crimes.
“An investigation has commenced and to date we have made two arrests.
“We would like to thank the community for their patience in respect of the disruption they faced and also place on record our support for the community leaders who worked to resolve the situation.”
Earlier, one man was arrested while a woman was struck and injured by a firework thrown by one anti-immigrant protester near City Hall.
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 near City Hall. The group chanted “Islam out” and unfurled Union flags.
PSNI Land Rovers formed a barrier between the two groups. Officers were seen arresting one man, who was taken away in a PSNI car.
One group chanted “refugees are welcome here”, with heckling from the rival crowd, some of whom shouted “send them back”. The rival crowd also chanted in support of far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
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Some protesters carried a Coolock Says No sign, in reference to a site in Dublin that was being renovated to accommodate asylum seekers.
The anti-Islamophobia rally ended shortly before 1pm.
However, some of those protesting against immigration moved on towards south Belfast.
Amid bizarre scenes, they appeared to get lost, before arriving on Ormeau Road where around 100 local residents turned them back.
Ms Hargey, a local Sinn Fein MLA who attended the anti-racism rally, said there was shock that the anti-immigrant protest had been allowed to reach south Belfast.
She told the Belfast Telegraph: “Our understanding is the fascist mob that had gathered at City Hall this morning made their way up towards University Road in south Belfast.
“For whatever reason they were then diverted down into Botanic and University Street.
“A large crowd, in excess of 100 people, made their way through the Holyland area, which is a very mixed and settled community. We have a lot of minority and ethnic communities that live there.
“They made their way out onto the Ormeau Road, which took people in this community by complete shock. A lot of them were at the anti-fascist demonstration and with no police presence on the ground there was then a stand-off that ensued between the two groups.
“Thankfully the residents have been very reserved and tried to push the protesters back up University Street to bring the area to calm.”
Ms Hargey said preparations were taking place for a community festival in the area on Sunday.
She said it was “very concerning” that the procession was able to march from the city centre to south Belfast.
She added: “We warned about this yesterday and I spoke to the PSNI and said there was refugee and asylum seeker accommodation the whole way up this route.”
Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland director Patrick Corrigan said: “The violence brought to the streets of Belfast today by racist agitators is utterly unacceptable.
“These thugs act not out of love for country but out of hatred of others. Despite the actions of this small minority, Belfast is and will always be a city of love, a city of sanctuary and a city of welcome for all.”
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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, 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.”
Read more
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.
Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, who were killed in the attack.
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 told those gathered that 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.”
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There was further violence in Sunderland on Friday, where a police station was looted and a Citizens Advice Bureau office was set alight.
A priest at Sunderland Minster said yobs tried to smash a gravestone to use as missiles during widespread violence in the city, adding that they were guilty of “an act of sacrilege”.
Northumbria Police Chief Superintendent Mark Hall said four officers were injured during the violence and 10 people have been arrested.
He said: “This was not a protest, this was unforgivable violence and disorder.”
People protest in Sunderland city centre following the stabbing attacks on Monday in Southport,
Greater Manchester Police said a dispersal notice had been authorised for the city centre to deal with planned demonstrations on Saturday.
Protesters with St George’s and union flags in Nottingham’s Market Square were met with counter-protesters chanting “racist scum off our streets” and “Nazis not welcome”.
In Leeds, around 150 people carrying St George’s flags shouting “you’re not English any more” and “paedo Muslims off our street” were greatly outnumbered by hundreds of counter-protesters shouting “Nazi scum off our streets”.
Chairman of Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board, Qari Asim, said the Muslim community is “deeply worried and anxious about the planned protests by the far right groups across the country”.
He said: “This intimidation and violence is the inevitable, devastating, outcome of rising Islamophobia that has been enabled to fester on social media, in parts of the mainstream media and by some populist leaders.”