Cafe attacked and arrests made as violence at Belfast protests condemned

A cafe was attacked and missiles were thrown at police during trouble linked to an anti-immigration protest in Belfast.

It followed a day of tension as rival groups staged demonstrations in the city centre.

One man was arrested and a woman injured after sporadic violence at City Hall this morning as unrest in English towns and cities following a fatal knife attack in Southport, which killed three young girls, spread to Northern Ireland.

One local councillor condemned the “disgusting scenes from far-right thugs”.

Later, anti-immigration protesters marched to south Belfast, where a café on Botanic Avenue was targeted by the crowd.

Windows were smashed and furniture broken at the Sahara shisha cafe.

Its owner, who has been in Belfast for 35 years, told the BBC that he had “no words”.

Police also gathered near the Islamic Centre on University Street amid fears the march was headed there.

Officers warned marchers they were taking part in an illegal procession, which hasn’t been approved by the Parades Commission, and are liable for arrest.

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.

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.

The anti-Islamophobia rally ended shortly before 1pm.

However, some of those protesting against immigration moved on towards south Belfast.

There has been strong condemnation of the trouble.

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.”

Sinn Fein MLA Deirdre Hargey, who attended the anti-racism rally, said: “Belfast is a progressive city, we stand firm against the rise of racism

“Those racists that attended, many of whom were not from Belfast, were overwhelmingly rejected by the citizens of our great city.”

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. Thanks to PSNI for keeping all safe.”

Police said they were 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.”

Several roads have also been closed, including at College Square East and Wellington Place. The lane to Shore Road from Fortwilliam roundabout was also shut.

Video footage seen by this newspaper also showed protests on the Boucher Road.

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 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.”

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.

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”.

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 have been met with counter-protesters chanting “racist scum off our streets” and “Nazis not welcome”.

Scuffles broke out as opposing groups faced each other on King Street at about 3pm, with bottles and other items thrown from both sides.

Chants of “England until I die” and “Tommy Robinson” were drowned out by boos from the counter-protesters.

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”.

Police in Stoke-on-Trent said they were aware of “pockets of disorder” and bricks were reportedly thrown at officers in the city.

Northumbria Police Chief Superintendent Mark Hall said four officers were injured during the violence in Sunderland and 10 people have been arrested.

He said those involved in the disorder should “expect to be met with the full force of the law”, adding: “This was not a protest, this was unforgivable violence and disorder.”

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.”

Meanwhile, Tory leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick said “elements of the far right” appear to be involved in the rioting while fellow contender Priti Patel denounced the “thuggery” and said MPs should unite in condemnation.