Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, was the scene of incredible violence on Tuesday evening sparked by protests against immigrants.
Cars and homes were set on fire, roads were blocked, and images circulating on social media show scenes reminiscent of a civil war.
Far-right activists were the ones who called people to the streets following a knife attack, as reported by The Guardian.
Police have charged a 30-year-old Sudanese man with attempted murder after he attacked a man in a neighborhood in north Belfast, leaving him in critical condition. The extremely violent scene was filmed and posted online.
Subsequently, masked protesters set fire to a bus in the east of Belfast and several cars in different areas of the city and nearby towns.
Moreover, attacks on homes and shops have been reported. Extremists were breaking into families of color and setting fire to their homes.
Police call for calm
Ryan Henderson, Deputy Chief of Police in Northern Ireland, stated that violent incidents had erupted in several areas.
"Several sporadic outbreaks of disorder have occurred this evening in various locations in Northern Ireland, including incidents where several vehicles were set on fire. We urge everyone to remain calm, act responsibly, and avoid any activity that could endanger themselves or others," the official conveyed.
He also called on leaders of local communities to encourage peaceful protests and discourage violence.
Political leaders condemn the violence
Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, Michelle O'Neill, strongly condemned the incidents and accused attempts to exploit the attack to fuel social tensions.
"Groups of masked men evicting families from their own homes represent a despicable cowardice. This has nothing to do with community spirit. It is simply hooliganism," she said.
John Finucane, Sinn Féin MP for North Belfast, described the scenes as "shameful."
"There is no place for this on our streets. Houses and businesses attacked, cars and buses set on fire, parts of our community in flames," the politician said.
Northern Ireland's Justice Minister, Naomi Long, also accused protesters of destroying the communities they claim to defend.
The attack that triggered the protests
The incident that sparked the protests took place on Monday evening near a residential block in north Belfast. Images shared on social media show a man repeatedly hitting another person on the ground.
The victim, a man around 40 years old, suffered serious injuries to his eyes, face, and back. A kitchen knife was found at the scene.
In addition to the attempted murder charge, the Sudanese suspect is also being investigated for carrying a bladed weapon in public and making death threats.
Jon Boutcher, Chief of Police in Northern Ireland, stated that the suspect was granted residency in the UK in September 2023 and was not listed in the security services' databases.
"At this moment, we have no information to suggest that this was an act of terrorism," he clarified.
Elon Musk encouraged the protests
Several influencers and right-wing commentators shared online footage of the attack and called for protests. Among them are Elon Musk and far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson.
Musk distributed a list of possible protest areas in the UK and wrote: "Only through REPEATED and STRONG protests will there be any change!"
Meanwhile, immigrant communities in Belfast expressed fear that they could become targets of violence. Several businesses owned by Sudanese individuals were preemptively closed, and the Islamic Center in Belfast canceled evening prayers and advised believers to stay indoors.
B.B.