Riot police have deployed water cannons against demonstrators who lit fires and threw projectiles at police in Belfast, as authorities prepare for a second night of unrest in Northern Ireland.
It comes after politicians urged for calm, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling earlier disorder in Belfast “totally unjustified”.
Footage showed dozens of men dressed all in black and wearing face coverings gathering on Antrim Road in Newtownabbey and throwing objects at a line of eight police vehicles.
Two water cannons, located near the Sandyknowes roundabout in Newtownabbey, were fired by police towards demonstrators who had lit fires in the street.
Trafficwatch NI said Sandyknowes roundabout is “currently closed in all approaches due to an ongoing incident”.
Nearby, a vehicle appeared to have been set alight next to a line of deployed riot police.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said officers have “deployed the water cannon” to maintain public order after missiles were thrown at police.
In a post on social media, the PSNI said: “Motorists advised to avoid the Sandyknowes Roundabout area of Newtownabbey due to ongoing disorder this evening.
“Crowds have gathered & missiles are being thrown at officers who have now deployed the water cannon in an attempt to maintain public order.”
Officers are expecting further disorder in Belfast, alongside a planned peaceful protest that is expected to be attended by over 100 near Stormont.
Disorder has been reported by police in Londonderry.
Ministers in Northern Ireland’s powersharing government have released a joint statement condemning “disorder, violence and intimidation” in Belfast on Tuesday night.
Violence erupted in parts of Belfast on Tuesday night after a “brutal” knife attack in the north of the city was filmed and shared widely on social media.
The suspect, Hadi Alodid, appeared before Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday morning and will be remanded in custody until his next court appearance in four weeks.
Alodid is a Sudanese national who claimed asylum upon arrival in September 2023 and was granted leave to remain in the UK until 2028.
He was charged with attempted murder with threats to kill an NHS radiographer and with possession of a knife.
The victim, identified as Stephen Ogilvy, lost his left eye and suffered deep cuts to his head, face and back. He remains in hospital.
In a statement issued through DUP Assembly member Phillip Brett, the family of the victim said they are “devastated by the horrific attack”.
They thanked those who stepped in while the attack was happening, crediting their actions as life-saving.
They condemned the riots, saying “unrest is not welcome” and praised migrants contribution, saying “we depend on them to make our country work”.
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