Belfast Burns: Migrant Homes and Vehicles Set Ablaze

The spark for the unrest in Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, was lit on Monday night when 30-year-old Hadi Alodid, a Sudanese national granted asylum status three years ago, stabbed and seriously injured an Irish man in his 40s.

Following the incident, demonstrators gathered in various cities and towns across the country, primarily in Belfast, taking to the streets to protest against immigrants.

Wearing black hoodies and masks, the rioters targeted immigrants in different areas of the city, setting fire to their homes, shops, and vehicles. Hundreds of masked men, carrying bottles and bricks, also set rubbish bins on fire and chanted "foreigners out!"

In Belfast, an African family who had lived in the area for 20 years was forced to flee after their windows were smashed, while a young Ukrainian girl managed to escape after her family's front door was set ablaze.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service reported that they responded to 62 incidents last night, most of which occurred in the Belfast area.

Source: BBC News