Second Night of Anti-Immigrant Riots in Northern Ireland; Police Deploy Water Cannons

(Central News Agency, Grongormley, UK, 10th Combined Foreign Reports) Police in Northern Ireland, UK, deployed water cannons on the night of the 10th to disperse demonstrators who had gathered for a second consecutive night. Authorities have accused far-right elements of using a stabbing incident in the Northern Irish capital, Belfast, to incite anti-immigrant sentiment via social media.

According to AFP, police have increased patrols in the city center. While the main flashpoint from the previous night appeared calm, dozens of men confronted police in some areas, throwing stones and bottles, and setting fires in the middle of the road.

Police issued a statement saying, "A crowd gathered and threw objects at police officers. Police have deployed a water cannon in an attempt to maintain public order."

Central Belfast was quieter towards evening on the 10th, with restaurants and shops shuttered, schools closed, and public transport suspended. Residents feared a repeat of the riots from the night of the 9th.

On the 8th of this month, Sudanese national Hadi Alodid allegedly attacked a man in his 40s, Stephen Ogilvie, with a knife in north Belfast, causing serious injuries to Ogilvie's neck and head.

Alodid appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court earlier on the 10th and was remanded in custody. The case was adjourned until July 8th. The attack sparked violence, with anti-immigrant protests also occurring in the Scottish city of Glasgow.

On the night of the 9th, masked rioters in Belfast set fire to homes and vehicles, forcing several families to flee.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the events of the previous night as "shocking and completely unacceptable."

Ogilvie's family earlier appealed for calm, warning against using this "terrible tragedy" to "divide society or stir up hostility."

The family stated that Ogilvie, who lost one eye, is now in stable condition. They said, "We are deeply saddened and angered by the scenes that unfolded across Northern Ireland yesterday as a result of this incident."

Tensions had already been high across the UK recently. Last week in southern England, riots broke out after police were accused of mishandling the murder of a white male university student by a British Sikh man.

Anna Turley, chair of the UK's ruling Labour Party, said social media platforms were "fueling" the unrest and accused X owner Elon Musk of being one of the "malicious instigators."

Following the incident, Musk reposted a message from far-right figure Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, writing, "Only by constantly protesting loudly will change come!"