Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill described scenes of violence in Belfast as "outright thuggery". This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing The Guardian.
In a social media post, O'Neill said: "Groups of masked men burning families out of their homes is nothing less than disgusting cowardice. This has nothing to do with community. This is outright thuggery. The attack in North Belfast was heinous and wrong. But there are dangerous attempts to exploit that to target and attack innocent people who are simply trying to live, work and raise their families here. Racism, intimidation and violence are wrong wherever they occur. There can be no excuse and no justification for these attacks tonight. No one wants to see this on our streets and I again appeal for calm."
Anti-immigration protests in Belfast escalated after a knife attack, leading to unrest. Protesters set bins and vehicles on fire, disrupting public order. Police quickly arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control. Law enforcement agencies are currently taking enhanced measures to prevent further disturbances.
O'Neill's statement received support from local residents and political groups. Many condemned the violence and called for peaceful dialogue. Despite the tense situation in Northern Ireland, authorities are making every effort to restore order.
This incident highlights societal tensions over immigration. According to experts, to prevent such situations, the government needs to review immigration policy and strengthen social cohesion. O'Neill's appeal is an important step in this direction.
Currently, the situation in Belfast is relatively calm, but police continue to operate in an enhanced mode. Work is underway to identify and prosecute those involved in the unrest.