Twelve police officers were injured and 16 arrests were made during the second night of unrest in Northern Ireland following a knife attack in Belfast, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has confirmed.
Condemnation of Violence
Benn stated he was “glad to say that last night there was less disorder than we witnessed on Tuesday night,” while condemning the “racist thuggery” seen after Monday’s stabbing assault, which left the victim in hospital.
On Wednesday evening, police deployed water cannons against rioters in County Antrim as officers were pelted with bricks and petrol bombs by balaclava-clad individuals.
Destruction and Confrontation
A Department for Infrastructure vehicle was set ablaze as rioters confronted police near the Sandyknowes roundabout in Newtownabbey, northwest of Belfast. Footage showed dozens of men dressed in black and wearing face coverings gathering on Antrim Road, tearing bricks from properties and smashing paving stones with sledgehammers to create projectiles.
Rioters attempted to set fire to a derelict property near a petrol station in Newtownabbey and threw petrol bombs at police lines. They also took wheelie bins from homes and set them on fire.
In Londonderry, police reported items set alight on the Ardmore Road.
Victim's Family Response
The family of victim Stephen Ogilvie expressed disgust at the disorder. Hadi Alodid, 30, appeared in court on Wednesday charged with attempted murder over Monday’s knife attack, in which Mr. Ogilvie lost an eye.
