Protests have swept across Belfast and beyond, with residents evacuated from homes as houses and cars were set on fire. Disorder broke out in multiple areas of Northern Ireland following a knife attack in the city on Monday.
Fires and Evacuations
On Tuesday night, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service responded to incidents on Lendrick Street in Belfast, where houses and vehicles were ablaze. Residents were evacuated from affected properties as the situation escalated.
Justice Minister's Appeal
Northern Ireland's Justice Minister, Naomi Long, has issued a stern warning, stating that “hate cannot be allowed” to win. Speaking after disorder erupted in several locations, she said: “Earlier today, I stood beside the First Minister, deputy First Minister and the PSNI Chief Constable and we appealed for calm. Sadly, there are those who have chosen to ignore those pleas; they are intent on wreaking destruction on the very communities they claim they are trying to protect.”
Weaponizing Anger
Minister Long accused the rioters of “weaponizing the genuine hurt, concern and anger that people are feeling for their own misguided purposes.” She emphasized that there is “no place for masked thugs to take to the streets and threaten, intimidate, disrupt and cause wanton damage – it is simply disingenuous to claim this is being carried out for the good of Northern Ireland.”
She appealed once again to communities not to allow themselves to be “used and abused in this manner,” noting that the disorder diverts valuable police resources away from those who genuinely need them. “These are not the actions of people who genuinely care about their communities,” she added.
While acknowledging the concerns following the attack in north Belfast, Long concluded: “Hate cannot be allowed to win.”
