Police condemn violence and disorder on streets of Belfast

Three police officers were injured during the disorder

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has condemned the scenes of violence and disorder on "the streets of Belfast" on Saturday.

The trouble happened after anti-immigration and anti-racism protesters faced off in tense scenes outside the city hall.

Police are treating damage to several businesses as hate crimes.

Residents also had to leave an apartment block in south Belfast after it was set on fire.

The PSNI said four people have been arrested after 13 reports of criminal damage and five of arson.

Three police officers were injured during the disorder - two remained on duty while the third was relieved from duty after suffering concussion.

'No justification'

In a statement, First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said: "Whilst people are entitled to peaceful protest, there is no justification for racism or the violence and intimidation that occurred on Saturday.

"Those involved should be quickly brought before the courts and we appeal to anyone with information to provide that information to the PSNI.

"We reiterate our joint commitment to a shared, peaceful and inclusive society."

A cafe in the Donegall Road area was also attacked

After the protest outside the city hall some anti-immigration protesters had attempted to march to the Belfast Islamic Centre in south Belfast but were prevented by police.

The crowd then made their way to Botanic Avenue, University Street, Lower Ormeau, Holylands and Donegall Road areas where sporadic violence developed for a number of hours.

Disorder also broke out in the Sandy Row area and several cars were set alight and a business premises targeted.

A number of vehicles were also set on fire in south Belfast on Saturday night

'Devastating impact'

ACC Davy Beck said "violence and destruction has no place in Belfast or anywhere else across the streets of Northern Ireland"

Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck said those who "engaged in this behaviour bring nothing but shame to themselves and Belfast city".

“This disorder, violence and destruction has no place in Belfast or anywhere else across the streets of Northern Ireland," he said.

“I would strongly urge anyone who was involved in yesterday’s rioting and disorder to think long and hard about their actions and the devastating impact this has had on local communities."

A supermarket and a cafe in the Donegall Road and Sandy Row areas of south Belfast were also badly damaged by fire in overnight attacks.

Abdelkader is originally from Syria and has been living in Northern Ireland for eight years

'Everything we built is destroyed'

Abdelkader is the owner of the supermarket in the Donegall Road area that was targeted.

He said he had shut the shop on Saturday afternoon and was surprised to see images of it burning on social media later that night.

He said he was from Syria and had been living in Northern Ireland for eight years.

“Everything we built from zero is destroyed,” he told BBC News NI.

“Everything is done, my life is done.”

He said he did not have the financial means to rebuild the property.

The supermarket owned by Abdelkader which was badly damaged on Saturday night

'Community is very afraid'

Sam Yousef is a representative of the Syrian community in Belfast.

He says that members of the community are “very afraid” and that he feels a bit unsafe as well.

Mr Yousef says that on social media he has seen people telling each other not to leave the house because the situation is “very terrible”.

“This is our country…we are trying to pay back, trying to work hard, pay tax, integrate into the society and contribute to the people here," he said.

“Our children are growing up here and we want them to feel safe because we escaped an unsafe area."

Daniel Lannon helped with the clear-up at one of the businesses that had been damaged

Daniel Lannon, who attends a nearby church, said he was driving past on Sunday morning when he saw the destruction caused by the attack on the supermarket.

He stopped to help with the clear-up.

“I believe this is the right thing to do,” he added.

“Some of the stuff that was going out on social media, with the protesters saying they were doing this in the name of Christianity, but that’s not Christianity.

“Christianity is to love your neighbour, to help them, to help those who are different from you, so that’s what we are trying to do today.”

'I could have been killed'

Rahmi has been in Belfast for 35 years

A cafe on Botanic Avenue was also attacked by a crowd of anti-immigration protesters on Saturday afternoon as they made their way to the Holylands area of south Belfast.

Protesters threw missiles at members of the media.

Windows were smashed and furniture was broken in the cafe on Botanic Avenue.

Rahmi, the owner of the cafe, who has been in Belfast for 35 years, told BBC News NI on Sunday that he "could have been killed".

He reiterated that there could have been more of a police presence when "the parade was walking" through the area.

A café on Botanic Avenue in south Belfast was attacked on Saturday afternoon

“You watch the videos and you can see only me and these big, massive chairs that they keep throwing at me.

“I’m sure if I had left the door open, they would do more damage or burn the inside.”

On Saturday, the police said it was aware of a number of reports of criminal damage and were treating them as hate crimes.

Sinn Fein MLA Deidre Hargey said her party plans to "robustly" follow up with the PSNI

The Sinn Féin MLA for Belfast South, Deidre Hargey, said there are “concerns” around the police “operation that took place” because she had warned the PSNI about possible demonstrations.

“We will be robustly following that up with the PSNI because lessons need to be learned," she added.

“It was clear that there was no proper policing in the Botanic area, in the university area, and indeed into the Ormeau Road itself. These were issues that I had previously highlighted and flashpoints that could be sensitive areas.”

She also questioned if there had been "enough action" to even stop the crowds moving from city hall and throughout the streets in south Belfast.

'Serious questions'

SDLP councillor Paul Doherty said his party would be requesting an urgent meeting with the PSNI.

He said there were “serious questions for the police to answer”.

Mr Doherty said “there was no police on” the Botanic Avenue when a business was damaged.

“Why was that?” he asked.

Police with riot shields were deployed in the Ormeau Road area of south Belfast

ACC Beck said the PSNI had a “significant policing operation” in place and that it was a “really challenging situation”.

“It was a really dynamic and agile and fast-moving protest and I think my officers responded really well to that,” he said.

“We will continue to work with any issues that we may face in the hours and the days ahead."

Mr Beck rejected criticism that the PSNI had fallen short in protecting businesses that had been attacked.

“I do regret that people attacked businesses and that’s wrong and that’s where the fault lies,” he said.

“It lies with those people that attacked and set out with violence in their mind and we will bring those people to justice.”

Mr Beck said police officers had “responded to concerns right across Belfast” and that he had been in contact with community representatives.

“We are working hard with the local community and will listen to the local community, we will respond to the concerns in the local community,” he added.

Police were deployed in Donegall Place in Belfast city centre while protesters gathered

'Intimidation and intolerance'

Northern Ireland's Justice Minister, Naomi Long, condemned the violence.

"There can be no place in our community for hate: for xenophobia, racism and Islamophobia," she added.

"Neither can there be any place for such intimidation and intolerance.

"My thoughts are with all those impacted by this disorder; those whose property was damaged, businesses attacked and who were intimidated, threatened or fearful as a result."

More than 100 people have been arrested after demonstrations organised by far-right groups descended into riots in UK towns and cities on Saturday.

There was unrest in Hull, Liverpool, Bristol, Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent, Blackpool, as well as Belfast, with missiles thrown, shops looted and police attacked in some places. Other smaller demonstrations elsewhere did not turn violent.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to give police forces the government's "full support" to take action against "extremists" attempting to "sow hate".