Belfast experienced a second night of disorder on Monday, with rioters hurling petrol bombs and missiles at police in the southern areas of the city. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has advised the public to avoid certain parts of the city amid ongoing violence.
In the Sandy Row and Donegall Road neighborhoods, at least one police vehicle was set on fire, and several other fires were reported. The chaos unfolded as around a dozen masked individuals targeted PSNI vehicles with petrol bombs while riot officers formed defensive lines.
Earlier in the day, a planned anti-immigration protest at the Clayton Hotel did not take place. The unrest in Belfast is part of a broader pattern of anti-immigration riots that have affected several cities, including incidents on Saturday where fireworks were used during clashes between anti-racist protesters and an anti-Islamic rally.
On Saturday, rioters in Belfast burned down a cafe, a supermarket, and several cars, with approximately 800 individuals involved in the violence. Similar unrest has been observed in other towns and cities across England, where far-right groups have clashed with police, resulting in extensive property damage, looting, and numerous arrests.