BELFAST (United Kingdom): Police arrested 16 people after a second night of unrest in Northern Ireland triggered by a high-profile stabbing in Belfast, although no new clashes were reported on Thursday evening as an increased police presence helped maintain calm.
The disorder followed the circulation of viral footage showing a man repeatedly stabbing another in a Belfast street on Monday night.
Sudanese national Hadi Alodid, 30, appeared in court on Wednesday charged with attempted murder and was remanded in custody.
The case was adjourned until July 8.
The victim, Stephen Ogilvie, remains in hospital but his condition is improving, according to Democratic Unionist Party leader Gavin Robinson, who met with his family.
Relatives appealed for calm, saying violence was not welcome in the wake of the attack. Despite the appeal, unrest erupted across parts of Belfast.
On Wednesday night, masked rioters threw petrol bombs, bricks and other projectiles at police, who responded with water cannon.
Twelve police officers were injured.
Rioters also set fire to a vehicle and a boarded-up property and attempted to reach a hotel used to house asylum seekers.
UK Northern Ireland minister Hilary Benn condemned the violence and intimidation, particularly attacks targeting people because of their ethnicity.
He noted that the unrest was less severe than Tuesday night’s violence, when vehicles and buildings were torched and families were forced to flee their homes.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland said two additional people had been charged in connection with the disturbances.
Authorities said there was no evidence that loyalist paramilitary groups coordinated the unrest, instead pointing to the role of far-right activists in inflaming tensions online.
The violence comes amid heightened debate over immigration across the UK and Ireland, where anti-immigration protests have become increasingly common.
Community leaders, including representatives of Northern Ireland’s largest mosque, have expressed concern over growing fear and intimidation linked to the unrest. – AFP
