Police in Northern Ireland have deployed water cannon against rioters during a second night of anti-immigration protests near Belfast.
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The unrest occurred on Wednesday night around the Sandyknowes roundabout near Newtownabbey, about eight miles north of Belfast, where a crowd of about 300 people reportedly threw bricks and petrol bombs, burned a truck and set up makeshift barricades.
Police issued repeated warnings before using water cannon to disperse the crowd after a standoff that lasted several hours.
The disorder followed a knife attack in north Belfast on Monday night, which left a man, identified as Stephen Ogilvie, severely injured.
Authorities said the protests had been fuelled by misinformation and anger over the incident, but the family of the victim condemned the violence and appealed for calm.
In a statement issued through police, Ogilvie’s family said false information circulating on social media had forced them to clarify that he was in stable condition.
“We have witnessed a lot of false information circulating on social media which is now forcing us to clarify that our loved one is in fact in a stable condition, and we are solely focused on his recovery at this time,” the family said.
The family said it was disgusted by the scenes of violent disorder and stressed that the unrest was not supported by them.
“We want to make it absolutely clear that to do this in response is not supported by our family, and peaceful protest is only ever the way forward,” the statement added.
Many of the protesters at Sandyknowes reportedly wore dark clothing and face coverings. Reports indicated that some planned to target a nearby hotel believed to be housing migrants.
During the unrest, demonstrators tore up a garden fence to use as a barricade and shield, while tyres, furniture and wheelie bins were used to start a large fire.
A white van was also driven into the flames, reportedly by a man who left it in gear before jumping out.
One onlooker was given first aid after being struck on the head by a flying rock and was taken to hospital. A police officer was also hit on the head, though the injury was not believed to be serious.
Police vehicles at the scene warned the crowd to disperse immediately or face the use of water cannon.
After the crowd was dispersed around 11:30 p.m., the area was left littered with bricks and debris, while firefighters moved in to extinguish remaining fires.
There were also reports of unrest in Derry and Coleraine, though the level of violence was said to be lower than the previous night.
Several advertised protests, including one at Belfast City Hall, failed to take place, while a protest at Stormont, the seat of Northern Ireland’s devolved government, passed off peacefully.
Ministers in the Stormont executive condemned the violence, saying it had spread fear and endangered innocent lives.
They said while the knife attack in north Belfast was deeply shocking, the matter was already before the courts and justice must be allowed to take its course.
“No community benefits from these actions,” the ministers said.
They accused those behind the disorder of exploiting public anger for destructive purposes.
“They are weaponising the genuine hurt, concern and anger that people are feeling for their own misguided purposes,” the statement added.
A 30-year-old man, Hadi Alodid, of Duncairn Avenue, Belfast, has been charged with the attempted murder of Stephen Ogilvie.
He was also charged with possessing a knife in a public place on Kinnaird Avenue on the same day.
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