Thousands of people gathered at Belfast City Hall on Saturday afternoon, chanting: “Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here. Who is Belfast? We are Belfast.” The “Together Against Hate” protest, organised by United Against Racism, came after a week of disorder across the city that saw homes, businesses and vehicles targeted.
The unrest was sparked by a knife attack in north Belfast on Monday night, in which a man suffered serious injuries. A 30-year-old Sudanese man, who entered the UK in 2023 and was granted refugee status, has been charged with attempted murder. Footage of the attack was shared widely on social media, and far-right activists including Tommy Robinson urged supporters to protest against what he called an “invader attack”. Tech billionaire Elon Musk amplified the call, urging citizens to protest “repeatedly and loudly” to change immigration policies.
“Thousands rally in Belfast against racism after far-right violence sparked by a knife attack.”
Hundreds of masked people took to the streets on Tuesday, with vehicles set on fire in east and north Belfast. Arson attacks on homes and businesses were reported in Ballyclare and Portadown. Police Service of Northern Ireland chief constable Jon Boutcher urged the public not to be “duped” into violent disorder by online incitement. But the violence continued, leaving many residents – particularly ethnic minorities and those in multi-occupancy homes – living in fear of a return to disorder.
At the rally, speaker Ivanka Antova told the crowd: “This week we witnessed something we will never forget. The scenes of families and young children fleeing their homes in terror. We’ll never forget how rich and powerful people used their online platforms… The whole world watched Belfast in horror. There is nothing legitimate about racist pogroms, and racism has no place in our city.” She extended solidarity to the hundreds of volunteers “who evacuated people, provided meals, and reassured frightened communities”.
Carmel Gates from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions praised healthcare workers, fire fighters, bus drivers and teachers who stepped up to help those attacked and intimidated. She said her “message to the far right was to ‘get out of our communities’.” She added that the only practical thing Westminster can do is “provide money to tackle the poverty that fuels racism”.
Separately, rival protesters faced off in Glasgow during a huge anti-racism demonstration, with police working to keep them apart.
Jonathan Hall KC, the government’s independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, said it was “absolutely legitimate” to discuss immigration in the context of national security after the Belfast attack, which he described as “extraordinarily destabilising”. He noted that while the attack did not appear to be a national security incident, it raised questions about whether migration should be considered not just in terms of the economy and housing but also national security.
The rally in Belfast passed peacefully. But with far-right figures still active online and residents still fearful, the question remains whether the calm will hold.