LAST UPDATE | 6 Aug
A MAN IS in a serious condition after reportedly being “stamped” on the head by attackers during anti-immigration violence in Belfast last night.
The PSNI said they are treating the assault as a hate crime and said the man, aged in his 50s, was taken to hospital after the attack.
“Witnesses reported seeing his attackers stamp on his head as members of the public attempted to shield him from further attack,” the PSNI said in a statement on the violent disorder this morning.
Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones said the PSNI is “working at pace” to identify offenders and make arrests.
Jones said officers had seen “violence and destruction” which she said “has no place in Belfast or anywhere else” across the country.
“We are engaging with groups that have been affected by this disorder and we are gathering evidence, CCTV and other footage to progress criminal investigations,” she said.
“We are determined to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.”
Officers came under “sustained” attack in south Belfast during a small anti-immigration gathering according to the PSNI.
At one stage petrol was poured over a police Land Rover and set alight.
“Thankfully the occupants of the vehicle were not physically harmed and remained on duty,” a PSNI spokesperson said.
“Attempts were also made to torch a supermarket which had been targeted on Saturday night. Officers were able to douse this small fire before it developed.
“A number of nearby roads were closed by police to ensure the safety of the public and local residents, and to enable officers to deal with the situation and disorder safely. All roads were subsequently reopened.”
Police deployed two attenuating energy projectiles (AEPs), with one rioter struck on the hand.
A 15-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour.
The latest violence began late on Monday in the same area where two businesses were attacked on Saturday following an anti-immigration protest.
Police said attempts were made to set fire to a supermarket which had been targeted on Saturday night, but officers were able to douse the small blaze before it developed.
Sinn Féin Assembly member for Belfast South Deirdre Hargey said the long weekend’s violence was designed to “deliver a message of hatred, to create fear within the community and to target minorities” through their actions.
She said there is a danger “someone is going to potentially lose a life” as a result of the violence.
“The shop that was set on fire, there was an attempt to do that again last night,” Hargey told RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland programme.
Hargey said this shop had been “completely burned out” and was also “attacked on previous occasions”.
Earlier yesterday, a meeting of Belfast City Council passed a motion to provide financial support to businesses damaged during Saturday’s disorder.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin has singled out Elon Musk as being partially responsible for the violence that has erupted recently.
He claimed the wider discussion about migration has consisted of “mindless ill-informed” arguments, while much of the recent violence has targeted specific groups, which he considers to be unacceptable.
According to him, there were “very real issues” in terms of how social media had a role in facilitating violence and the kind of aggression we witness on streets in recent times.
“The level of aggression and hate that comes from that is something we should have no part of in Ireland,” he said.
“We do have to draw demarcation lines in respect of the nature of protests.”
The Northern Ireland Assembly has been recalled for later this week to discuss the anti-immigration violence in Belfast.
Hargey said that political parties need to now come together in condemnation of the violence.
She said there was also a “need to target online social media sites” as she said these sites where were “misinformation and fear was being ramped up” against communities.
“Our concern is that someone will lose a life,” she said.
Hargey said she wants to see the PSNI be “robust” in follow ups with the “ringleaders” of the weekend’s demonstrations, who she said were “instigating online and on the streets of Belfast”.
She said gardaí in the Republic would also be required to assist in follow ups by authorities, adding that a number of people had travelled from Dublin for Saturday’s protest.
One banner seen on Saturday was a Coolock Says No sign, similar to that used at anti-migration demonstrations at the former Crown Paints site in north Dublin.
Hargey outlined on RTÉ that nationalist communities in Lower Arbour Road faced “sectarian insults” by the protests but were able to “push back” the far-right group.
“They pushed the crowd out of their local community. That represents the true voice of Belfast and I believe indeed the island as a whole,” Hargey said.
Four men linked to disorder on Saturday appeared at Belfast Magistrates’ Court.
The court heard that police believe that more violence linked to planned anti-immigration protests is likely in Belfast in the coming days.
A judge described scenes of disorder in the city at the weekend as “absolutely disgraceful” as he refused bail to the four men.
With reporting by PA
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