Northern Ireland’s First Minister has called for the prioritising of “protecting lives and property and facing down racism”.
Michelle O’Neill was speaking after scenes of violence and disorder followed an anti-immigration protest in Belfast on Saturday.
Four men appeared in court on Monday to face charges linked to the violence.
Several businesses were attacked during the violence, which erupted in the city after the protests on Saturday. Business owners have said the Islamic community was deliberately targeted.
The Alliance Party has called for the recall of the Stormont Assembly to discuss the violent scenes.
A vehicle is set alight in Belfast following an anti-Islamic protest outside Belfast City Hall (David Young/PA)
Ms O’Neill said she has spoken to Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable Jon Boutcher.
“There is no place in this society for racism or the attacks on our minority communities which took place at the weekend,” she said.
“Today, I spoke to PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher and we agreed that the shared priority is to protect lives and property and face down racism, violence and intimidation.
“Co-operation between the PSNI and An Garda Siochana is essential so that those responsible for causing and orchestrating the racist violence on Saturday will face the full force of the law.
“As a Government and as a society we must all work together to deliver a shared, peaceful and inclusive society.”
A number of businesses were damaged during violence in Belfast (Jonathan McCambridge/PA)
Earlier, Stormont’s Justice Minister, Naomi Long, hit out at the radicalisation of people online “through disinformation and outright lies”.
Police mounted a significant security operation during a lengthy confrontation between anti-Islamic protesters and those taking part in an anti-racist rally at Belfast City Hall during which fireworks and other missiles were thrown.
The force said it then prevented an attempt by protesters to march to Belfast Islamic Centre, but that sporadic violence broke out in other parts of the city.
Three police officers were injured in the disorder and the PSNI has said those involved will be dealt with “using the full force of the law”.
Justice Minister Naomi Long hit out at disinformation being spread online (Liam McBurney/PA)
Ms Long said if there are any lessons to be learned from the policing operation at the weekend, she has no doubt the PSNI will learn them.
She told the BBC’s Good Morning Ulster programme: “We have people in our community this morning who have invested their lives in building businesses, in settling into our community and in providing services to our community, who have now seen their entire livelihoods wiped out in one night of sickening violence, and that has to stop.
“We are already seeing now on social media people making preparations for another round of this this week.
“This cannot continue, we cannot have this kind of Islamaphobia, xenophobia and hatred on our streets.
“People have a right to an opinion when it comes to immigration, but it needs to be an informed opinion. What we are seeing instead is radicalisation of people online through disinformation and outright lies.
“It is incredibly dangerous.
“If there are lessons to be learnt around the policing operation I have no doubt whatsoever they will be learnt.”
Northern Ireland Policing Board chairman Mukesh Sharma described the violence as ‘deeply depressing and disturbing’ (Liam McBurney/PA)
Policing Board chairman Mukesh Sharma described the violence in Belfast as “deeply depressing and disturbing”.
“As a board, we join in the condemnation of all those who engaged in this disorder, and we welcome police commitments to bring all those responsible to justice,” he said.
“There is no place for hate in our community.
“We all have a real job of work to do to provide reassurance to the community that the violent actions of a few are not representative of our society.
“I welcome the increased police engagement at this time with affected and concerned communities, and also trust that all those officers injured in the course of the disorder make a speedy recovery.”