Belfast rioters slammed as ‘racist scumbags’ as protection organised for ethnic minorities
Rioters set alight cars and homes after a stabbing in Belfast earlier this week.
Rioters caused chaos in Belfast on Tuesday (Image: Getty)
Rioters in Belfast have been slammed as “racist scumbags” following a night of disorder in the city. Homes and vehicles were set on fire as protesters took to the streets on Tuesday (June 9) after a knife attack on Monday.
Republicans are now “mobilising” to protect ethnic minorities that are at risk of being targeted by the rioters in Belfast. It comes after Sir Keir Starmer dubbed Tuesday’s disorder “unacceptable” and added it was “clear” people were being targeted “because of their background”. Damien Fennell, who was acquitted in 2017 of inviting support for the Irish Republican Army (IRA), has now pledged to support families in the Ardoyne area of the city.
As reported by the Telegraph, Mr Fennell said: “We have reassured them that they are welcome in Ardoyne and these racist scumbags don’t represent this district.
“The contact details of local Republicans have been left with them and we will be mobilising at their house should anyone arrive at their door. Make no mistake, local republicans will be defending this family and any others attacked like this by any means necessary.”
Ardoyne is a working-class suburb in North Belfast, known for its role as a Catholic and Irish nationalist area during the Troubles. It was directly impacted by the city-wide rioting last night which saw far-right groups target minority families.
It is reported that masked men targeted the homes of minority and Black families in and around Ardoyne. They allegedly threatened to force them out of their homes before local residents mobilised to defend them.
Cars and homes were set alight (Image: Getty)
The unrest came after Stephen Ogilvie was attacked on Kinnaird Avenue, in north Belfast, on Monday (June 8). The local resident lost his eye and suffered other significant injuries.
Hadi Alodid, a 30-year-old Sudanese man, has been charged with attempted murder. He appeared at Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (June 10) and will next appear on July 8.
In a statement issued through Phillip Brett, a DUP member of the legislative assembly in Northern Ireland, the family of the victim thanked those who stepped in to help him during the attack. However, they said the riots were “not welcome”, adding that “peaceful protest is the only way forward”.
Hillary Benn, the Northern Ireland Secretary, said “Nothing can justify the violence”. He confirmed more police officers would be deployed across the city on Wednesday night.
