Thousands rally in Belfast against anti-immigrant rioters
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- Thousands gathered in Belfast to denounce anti-immigrant rioters who set fire to homes and cars following a stabbing blamed on an asylum seeker.
- The stabbing incident involved a 30-year-old Sudanese man charged with attempted murder, which sparked violent protests targeting immigrant communities.
- The unrest resulted in over two dozen people losing their homes and 12 police officers injured, with officials condemning the violence as "thuggery."
- Peaceful demonstrators carried anti-racism signs and emphasized that violence and evil, not race, are the real problems, highlighting a community pushback against hatred.
- Similar tensions occurred in Glasgow, where an anti-racism rally confronted a smaller far-right group making Nazi salutes and chanting anti-Muslim slogans.