Bus and bins on fire as PSNI say they're dealing with 'pockets of disorder' as protests take place across NI
It comes in the wake of a knife attack on a man in north Belfast on Monday evening
Last updated 15 hours ago
Protesters have set fire to a bus in Belfast as disorder flared at an anti-immigration demonstration organised in response to Monday night’s stabbing attack in the city.
Demonstrations are taking place in areas across Northern Ireland with a senior officer said police in the region are currently dealing with “sporadic pockets of disorder” in a number of locations.
Masked men set commercial bins alight and pushed them into the Glider bus on the Newtownards Road in the east of the city on Tuesday evening.
It came as a large crowd gathered in the area for a scheduled anti-immigration protest.
There are reports of roads being blocked at a number of locations in Belfast and in other parts of Northern Ireland.
Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said: “Sporadic pockets of disorder have broken out in a number of locations across Northern Ireland this evening, including incidents in which a number of vehicles have been set on fire.
“We are urging everyone to remain calm, act responsibly, and avoid any activity that could place themselves or others at risk.
“Officers are on the ground, working alongside partner agencies, responding to incidents as they arise and helping to keep people safe.
“We are again appealing for calm and ask all voices of influence within local communities to encourage peaceful protest and discourage any involvement in violence or disorder.”
Northern Ireland’s Education Minister Paul Givan said any violence at anti-immigration demonstrations will “distract” from protesters’ message.
Mr Givan, who attended a protest in Lisburn, said: “It is important that people do conduct themselves in a peaceful manner to make sure that the key issues here around immigration can be heard and we are not distracted by any form of violence.
“That will only distract. People should express their views in a peaceful manner.”
Earlier, a man arrested on suspicion of the Belfast knife attack was charged with attempted murder.
The 30-year-old accused, who is Sudanese, is also charged with possession of an article with a blade or point in a public place and making threats to kill.
He is due to appear at Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
In Northern Ireland, the authorities do not release the name of accused persons before they appear in court.
The victim of the attack, a man aged in his 40s, remained in a serious condition in hospital on Tuesday receiving treatment for serious eye, face and back wounds.
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