Anti-racism protesters rally in Belfast against anti-immigrant violence

Anti-racism protesters have held a rally outside Belfast City Hall to condemn the anti-immigrant violence that has gripped the city over the past week.

The violence, which erupted after a man was stabbed in the street by an asylum seeker, saw homes and cars set alight and police attacked with bricks, bottles and firebombs.

Northern Ireland's political leaders are calling for calm in the wake of the incident, while figures in Britain's far right are calling for further anti-immigration protests.

Thousands of demonstrators have gathered in Belfast to denounce anti-immigrant rioters who set fire to homes and cars earlier in the week after a brutal stabbing blamed on an asylum seeker.

The anti-racism rally came after nights of fiery violence in parts of Northern Ireland following the arrest of a 30-year-old man from Sudan on charges of attempted murder in a stabbing that left a man partly blind.

Groups of masked men set fire to several homes they believed to house immigrants, torched a bus and pelted police with bricks, bottles and firebombs during the violence.

More than two dozen people were left homeless and 12 police officers were injured in what officials called "thuggery".

"All it takes is for one person who's not white and local to commit a crime and that fire of racism is rekindled," Elaine Crory told the crowd gathered outside Belfast City Hall on Saturday.

Peaceful demonstrators carried signs saying: "The problem is evil & violence not race", "Your racism is not patriotism", and "Protect people, not prejudice".

Newlyweds Cara Bell and Matthew Richardson said it was a happy coincidence they were able to emerge from getting married in City Hall to join the peaceful demonstration after the ugly violence they witnessed earlier in the week.

"It's important to note that things like today really show that this is not the general feeling of people in Belfast," Ms Bell said, noting it was "a week where you've seen the worst of humanity and the best of humanity in Belfast".

Despite calls for calm by officials and the family of the victim, far-right and anti-immigrant figures were blamed for whipping up protests in several places across the UK earlier in the week, and are calling for more protests.

Disorder in Glasgow, Scotland, targeted minorities and terrified worshippers at a mosque went into lockdown, police said.

On Saturday, an anti-racism group rallied thousands to reclaim Glasgow streets and "stand up to the far right".

The group was met by a much smaller contingent of mostly men who appeared to make Nazi salutes and shout anti-Muslim chants.

The anti-racism group shouted: "Nazi scum off our streets."