Police use water cannon against rioters in Northern Ireland
The Guardian • • world
Key Points:
- Police deployed water cannon to disperse around 300 rioters near Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland, who burned a truck and threw bricks and petrol bombs during anti-immigration protests.
- The unrest followed a knife attack in north Belfast that left Stephen Ogilvie severely injured, with his family condemning the violence and misinformation circulating on social media.
- Several planned protests, including one at Belfast City Hall, did not occur, while a smaller, peaceful protest took place at Stormont, the seat of the devolved government.
- The violent scenes involved protesters using barricades and fires, resulting in injuries to one onlooker and a police officer; police eventually dispersed the crowd after hours of standoff.
- Stormont ministers condemned the disorder, emphasizing that justice must take its course and criticizing those exploiting community anger to incite violence; a suspect has been charged with attempted murder and possession of a knife.