LAST UPDATE | 11 Aug

SEVERAL POLICE OFFICERS were injured after petrol bombs, fireworks and heavy masonry were thrown during disorder in Derry last night.

Police said they are liaising with community representatives to prevent further escalation after disorder erupted in Nailors Row.

A 46-year-old man has been charged with disorderly behaviour following the disorder, the PSNI said. He will appear in court on 4 September.

The PSNI appealed to parents and guardians to take their children home as up to ten of its officers were injured in last night’s scenes.

They warned that the disorder is presenting a “serious risk” to the safety of residents in the area.

The attacks came after the annual loyalist-backed Apprentice Boys Relief of Derry parade, which marks the anniversary of the ending of the Siege of Derry in 1689.

PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said this afternoon that support for police should be “society wide” as he condemned the “despicable scenes across Northern Ireland”. 

“It is not acceptable to assault or attack police officers. I will be seeking the maximum sentences against those convicted of such attacks. We will not simply stand here and accept this,” Boutcher said. 

Separately, Belfast city centre saw a crowd of over 15,000 people yesterday afternoon demonstrating against anti-immigration violence in the area.

15,000 in Belfast saying No to Racism, No to Division pic.twitter.com/IRRHmF1fSU

— Claire Hanna (@ClaireHanna) August 10, 2024

Organised by the United Against Racism group, the protesters made their way to City Hall in Belfast, chanting “When migrants’ rights are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back”.

Many waved Palestinian and Pride flags, with homemade placards that included Belfast-themed messages “scundered for racists” and “Ulster says yeooo to migrants”.

Separately, a petrol bomb which did not ignite was thrown at a mosque in Co Down in the early hours yesterday, in an incident described by police as racially motivated.

The mosque in Newtownards was attacked at around 1am, with graffiti sprayed on the front door and walls of the building in Greenwell Street.

The PSNI said this was being treated as a racially motivated hate crime and said that “any reports of hate crime” are taken very seriously.

Friday night also saw cars set alight in Tavanagh Street and Sandhurst Gardens, which the police said were too being treated as racially motivated hate crimes.

Today, the PSNI confirmed that a 26-year-old-man who was arrested yesterday detectives investigating recent disorder in Belfast has now been charged with a number of offences.

They include riot, arson, conspiracy to commit arson, three counts of possession of an offensive weapon with intent, and two of criminal damage.

He is expected to appear at Belfast Magistrates court tomorrow morning.

With reporting by PA