Hundreds of anti-immigration protesters, many wearing masks, gathered at multiple locations in Belfast on Tuesday evening, causing chaos. A bus and several cars were set on fire, while a building on the edge of the city center was engulfed in flames, forcing residents to evacuate.
Police helicopters patrolled the city skyline and many shops closed early. The unrest followed a knife attack in north Belfast on Monday evening, captured in a shocking video.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the initial attack as 'disgusting.' The incident comes amid rising tensions in the United Kingdom after the killing of a student, whose hands were cuffed by police while he was dying from a knife wound, and the murderer falsely claimed it was a racist attack.
The protests also follow repeated anti-immigration demonstrations, as populist parties argue that UK asylum policies have allowed dangerous men into the country. Last year, Northern Ireland saw anti-immigration riots linked to a suspected sexual assault.
Immigration has become a hot-button political issue, fueling the rise of far-right parties Reform UK and Restore Britain in opinion polls. Northern Ireland's political leaders and regional police chief have urged people not to incite hatred, fear, or target specific communities.
