Masked men burned homes and vehicles during a wave of anti-immigrant violence in Belfast on Tuesday night following a knife attack allegedly involving a Sudanese man.
Hundreds of protesters, many with covered faces, clashed with police and set vehicles ablaze at multiple locations across Northern Ireland after footage of the stabbing — which left one person with serious neck and head injuries — spread online.
Several homes were seen on fire during the unrest. Footage aired by the BBC showed police helping a family escape from a burning house. Local politicians and a pastor said many of those targeted were Black residents.
“There can be no excuse and no justification for these attacks tonight,” Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill said. “Groups of masked men burning families out of their homes is nothing less than disgusting cowardice.”