Police in Northern Ireland have fired 17 plastic bullets and called in 200 reinforcements from Great Britain as race riots fuelled by a knife attack spread across Belfast for a third consecutive night.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) deployed water cannon and fired the projectiles — known as “attenuating energy projectiles” — after masked rioters tore bricks from properties, smashed paving stones with sledgehammers, and hurled petrol bombs at officers. A Department for Infrastructure vehicle was set on fire near the Sandyknowes roundabout in Newtownabbey, where intense clashes erupted on Wednesday night.
“Police fire 17 plastic bullets and deploy 200 UK reinforcements as race riots grip Belfast for third night.”
The violence followed the dissemination of a graphic video showing Monday’s knife attack on Stephen Ogilvie, who lost an eye and remains in hospital. Hadi Alodid, 30, appeared at Belfast magistrates’ court charged with attempted murder, threats to kill an NHS radiographer, and possession of a knife.
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn condemned the targeting of minority ethnic people as “racist thuggery, there’s no question about it at all”. He told Times Radio that a fast-track asylum scheme that allowed Alodid to remain in Britain in 2023 after filling in a questionnaire is no longer in operation, and asylum-seekers are now “properly processed”.
Twelve officers have been injured and 16 people arrested since the disturbances erupted on Tuesday. A 24-year-old woman was charged with disorderly behaviour and possession of an article with intent to do damage; a 28-year-old man was charged with failing to remove a disguise when requested, obstructing police and resisting police. Both were due before Lisburn magistrates court on Thursday.
The Police Federation for Northern Ireland’s chair, Liam Kelly, welcomed the reinforcements but said chronic under-resourcing left the PSNI 1,200 short of the 7,500 officers promised. He expressed hope that those convicted would receive maximum sentences, calling rioters “violent racist and fascist lawbreakers”.
PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson warned protesters “the stakes are high” and said the justice system “stands ready to give long sentences to those bringing disorder to our streets”. He added: “This violent behaviour by a thuggish minority will not be tolerated.”
The family of Stephen Ogilvie said they were “disgusted” by the disorder. Police released CCTV images of two men wanted for questioning in connection with Tuesday’s unrest, in which homes were scorched and families forced to flee. The Police Ombudsman confirmed it will assess each use of plastic bullets.
Benn said he was “glad to say that last night there was less disorder than we witnessed on Tuesday night”, but rioters also attacked a petrol station in Newtownabbey and set fires in Londonderry. Police vowed to be back on the streets in “significant numbers” on Thursday night.