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LAST UPDATE | 8 Aug 2024
NORTHERN IRELAND FIRST Minister Michelle O’Neill has said there is no place for racism in Northern Ireland after a meeting of the Stormont Executive to discuss recent scenes of violent disorder on the streets of Belfast.
Executive ministers held a meeting at Stormont Castle with PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher this morning, with the Northern Ireland Assembly now sitting to discuss the riots.
Outside Parliament Buildings, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions led a rally in opposition to the rioting seen in the capital on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday evenings following anti-immigration protests.
Speaking after the Executive meeting, O’Neill said: “We are unequivocally collective in our determination to say no to racism, and stand firmly united in terms of what we see unfolding in front of us.
“There is no place in our society for racism in any of its forms. The racist attacks on people, on businesses and homes are absolutely wrong, and have created such a deep fear. A fear that I think perhaps none of us have ever seen before among many parts of our community,” she said.
O’Neill said many people feel “extremely vulnerable” and “fearful” following the disorder.
“We have mothers who are afraid to walk their children to the park, we have children who are afraid to go to youth clubs and to schemes. We have healthcare workers that are afraid to go to work. We have nurses that are afraid to go home and that is not acceptable,” she continued.
“That is the real, human impact of this type of activity, this type of racist activity in our society. It speaks volumes in terms of hate because that is what it is and it must stop.
Those responsible must and will face the full rigours of the force of the law.
Little-Pengelly said there will be a “joint and robust” response to any violence and disorder in Northern Ireland.
“Today, we are collectively sending a strong and united message against violence, disorder and racism,” she said. “Make no mistake, there will be a joint and robust response to any continued disorder.
“Violence is wrong. Disorder is not acceptable. Concerns must always be addressed through democratic processes. We must do everything we can to de-escalate the current situation, and we urge all to work to achieve that.”
Long said the violence and racist attacks in recent days are “not reflective” of the vast majority of people living in communities.
“We’ve seen people intimidated from their homes, where we’ve seen their businesses attacked, where we’ve seen their accommodation being set alight, where we have seen them being abused and assaulted in the street,” Long added.
“That violence is not representative of the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland. It does not reflect the value that we place on the diversity of our community, but it nevertheless is hugely impactful on those who feel vulnerable in the face of those attacks.
“We need to call it for what it is. It is racism, it is Islamophobia, it is xenophobia.”
It comes as the PSNI has said it will be significantly scaling-up the number of officers on the ground and has requested that additional officers be sent from Britain to help deal with the disorder.
A number of violent demonstrations have occured since Saturday, when Loyalist demonstrators, joined by anti-immigrant elements from Dublin, clashed with police and counter-demonstrators outside Belfast City Hall.
Violence continued for a number of days after, with restaurants, cafés, and shops belonging to people from a minority ethnic background being targeted.
A senior PSNI officer earlier this week said a paramilitary element is suspected of coordinating violence in Belfast.
Five people were arrested last night as the PSNI dealt with a number of race-related hate crime, incidents and disorder.
The arrests were made after bins were set on fire blocking Connswater Street, with items thrown at tactical support officers. Officers also dealt with a number of reports of criminal damage to homes and cars in the Silverstream Road, Sandy Row and Upper Frank Street area of east Belfast.
The five men – aged 33, 32, two aged 25 and 18 – were all arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour, with some also detained on disorderly behaviour, possession of a petrol bomb and resisting arrest.
Four of these have since been charged and will appear before Belfast Magistrates Court tomorrow, while the 25-year-old man has been released on police bail pending further enquiry.
Police said one officer was injured during the course of making one of these arrests and has been receiving medical attention at hospital.
“For a fourth night, our officers dealt with incidents such as assaults, criminal damage and arson in a challenging environment right across the city,” Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said.
We have arrested 17 males so far with 11 charged to court and more will follow.
Jones said the Public Order Enquiry Team is continuing to review footage to attempt to identify those involved, as well as those organising and orchestrating this disorder.
“As a result of the ongoing street violence and disorder we have seen across Belfast since the weekend the Police Service of Northern Ireland has taken a decision to significantly mobilise the service. This is to ensure that we have additional visible policing able to respond to protest and disorder effectively,” she said.
“We have also submitted a request to National Police Coordination Centre for additional officers from across the United Kingdom to support the policing operation.
“The Mutual Aid officers will provide vital resilience and support and will be given all of the necessary equipment and familiarisation training.”
A Major Incident Public Portal has been established for people to submit information, images and footage.
This can be shared with police through the Major Incident Public Portal here.
On Monday, four men linked to disorder on Saturday appeared at Belfast Magistrates’ Court, while a 15-year-old boy appeared before the same court on Wednesday charged with rioting. All were remanded.
Police have also charged five people amid investigations into a number of racially motivated hate crimes in Belfast, including an attack on a young boy.
Three men, aged 26, 28 and 41 years, who were arrested in connection to the report of damage to homes and cars in the Rathlin Street area of Belfast on Tuesday, have been charged to appear at court.
The men have been charged with a number of offences, including criminal damage, riotous behaviour, incitement to hatred and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. All due to appear at Belfast Magistrates’ Court today.
Three teenage boys, who were arrested on Tuesday evening in the Shankill area of Belfast, have also been charged to appear at court.
Two boys aged 16 and one aged 14 have all been charged with riotous behaviour. They are due to appear at Belfast Youth Court on Monday, 2 September.
On Wednesday, Secretary of State Hilary Benn condemned “racist violence” in Belfast in recent days and stressed that it “does not represent Northern Ireland”.
He said it should be a cause of shame that some people currently do not feel safe in their own homes, and urged those behind the disorder to stop.
“It’s really important that the vast majority of people, who I know will be as shocked and angered and disgusted at what has happened, speak up,” Benn said.
He called for all of the political parties in the North to “speak with one voice in condemning what has happened” when the Assembly is recalled.
This needs to be brought to an end.
MLAs will debate a motion condemning “criminal damage and targeting of businesses in recent days”.
The motion also calls on First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly to finalise the draft Refugee Integration Strategy and associated delivery plan, to bring forward the renewed Race Relations Order, and set out the process of replacing the Racial Equality Strategy 2015/25 by the end of the year.
With reporting from Press Association
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