Belfast Riots: Disorder Lessens, but Racist Thuggery Persists
Quick Look
- Disorder in Belfast decreased Wednesday night compared to Tuesday, when riots targeted ethnic minorities.
- Hilary Benn described the violence as "racist thuggery," noting that rioters on Wednesday attempted to reach a hotel housing asylum seekers.
- Police used water cannon and plastic bullets.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Riots erupted in Belfast targeting ethnic minorities and foreign residents following a knife attack. On Wednesday night, many rioters sought to reach a hotel housing asylum seekers. Police responded with water cannon and plastic bullets.
Hilary Benn said there was less disorder on the streets of Belfast on Wednesday night as opposed to Tuesday, when rioters targeted ethnic minorities and foreign residents by torching homes and vehicles following a knife attack for which a Sudanese man has been charged with attempted murder.
But many of those who did clash with police on Wednesday were seeking to get to a hotel outside Belfast that has been targeted in the past for housing asylum seekers. Officers used water cannon to drive rioters back and Reuters saw what appeared to be plastic bullets, or baton rounds, on the street.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland declined to comment.
Asked on Sky News if violent scenes were racist riots rather than protests, Benn said: “Well, if you are targeting people on the basis of the colour of their skin, how else can you describe them? That is racist thuggery”.
Police and politicians say much of the violence had been encouraged and coordinated online. In recent days lists have circulated showing where asylum seekers were living, the addresses of immigration businesses were published and a nursing union official said ethnic minority nurses had been chased by masked men as they tried to get to work.
Open Questions
- What was the outcome of the knife attack investigation?
- What specific actions are being taken to address the online coordination of violence?
- What is the current status and condition of the asylum seekers targeted?
- What is the long-term plan for managing asylum seeker accommodation and community relations in Belfast?
