The unrest continues
Northern Irish police are using water cannons to dispel protesters after bricks were hurled at officers this evening . Riots continue in parts of the country in response to a knife attack in Belfast earlier this week.
The water canons have been sprayed at protesters in County Antrim, where a large department for infrastructure vehicle was set alight. Footage of the outbreak shows masked men tearing bricks from properties and smashing paving stones with sledgehammers to create projectiles to throw at riot police. They could also be seen taking wheelie bins from outside homes and lighting fires in them.
Balaclava-clad rioters also broke open a metal fence to access the Sandyknowes Wastewater Pumping Station and removed a garden fence to use as a shield against the police water cannon. Videos shared on social media showed protesters attempting to march to the Chimney Corner Hotel, with riot police and several vans being deployed to manage the demonstrations. Chimney Corner Hotel is known for housing migrants.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland said officers deployed water cannons to maintain public order after missiles were thrown at police. Additional police officers are on the streets in the region following significant unrest on Tuesday night following the brutal attack on Monday. Public transport was suspended and some schools closed early on Wednesday with fears of a second night of violence.
Earlier, Hadi Alodid, 30, appeared in court charged with attempted murder over Monday’s knife attack in which victim Stephen Ogilvie lost an eye. Mr Ogilvie, who is aged in his 40s, remains in a serious condition in hospital in Belfast. It is understood he is in an induced coma. The reaction to the incident saw mobs set homes, a bus and cars on fire on Tuesday, with people targeted based on their race.
Alodid appeared before Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday morning charged with the attempted murder of Mr Ogilvie, with threats to kill anDistrict Judge Stephen Keown refused bail after hearing police concerns there could be “significant public disorder” if he was released due to “strong public feeling” about the incident. The judge warned that anyone who plans to take part in further disorder in Northern Ireland should “be prepared to go to prison”.
“It is clear that people were targeted last night because of their background and I will not tolerate it,” he said. Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said 200 more officers would be on the streets on Wednesday night.
“We will be on the streets tonight in numbers even more than we were last night, and we have got arrangements in hand to get mutual aid that will be arriving here tomorrow. ” The force said that following the recent disorder, “some social media users are posting address details online”.
“We have received phone calls from a number of families, house owners, neighbours and members of the wider community who are extremely distressed as a result of this reckless activity,” a spokesperson for the PSNI said. “Anyone who shares personal information online with the intention to endanger others may be committing a criminal offence.
”An 18-year-old man became the fourth person to be arrested, after a petrol bomb was thrown at two police officers during disorder in Carrickfergus on Tuesday night. The man was arrested on suspicion of riot at an address in Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, on Wednesday. Mr Ogilvie’s family said in a statement they were “devastated by the horrific attack” but pleaded for calm.
“We want to make it absolutely clear that overnight unrest is not welcome, and peaceful protest is the only way forward. “We have many migrants who make a deeply valuable contribution to our country, including in our healthcare system and hospitality sector and we depend on them to make our country work. Choose Manchester Evening News as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.
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