Two days of violence against immigrants in Northern Ireland is nothing more than racist rioting, the British minister for the region, Hilary Benn, said on Thursday. He was responding to protests against ethnic minorities, triggered by Monday’s knife attack, after which a 30-year-old Sudanese asylum seeker was charged with attempted murder. TASR informs about it according to the Reuters agency.
In short:
- Hilary Benn called the two days of violence in Northern Ireland a racist riot
- Monday’s knife attack by a Sudanese asylum seeker sparked protests in Belfast
- During the riots in Belfast, protesters threw objects at police and set fires
Benn confirmed that there was less unrest on the streets of Belfast on Wednesday night compared to Tuesday. Despite this, the protesters threw bricks, stones or bottles at the security forces and started small fires. Therefore, the police used water cannons and plastic projectiles. Around 200 people, including many teenagers, are estimated to have joined the protests.
Racist rioting
Sky News asked the Northern Ireland minister on Thursday if the violence was a racist riot rather than a protest. “Well, if you’re targeting people based on the color of their skin, how else can you describe it? It’s racist rioting,” Benn replied. According to him, the incidents in the region caused deep trauma.
“It’s really hard to express the real sense of fear felt by the ethnic minority community here in Northern Ireland as they witnessed these scenes, the reports of people being stopped in cars and asked about their nationality. It’s terrifying,” the minister added.
Monday’s attack
The attack, which is the reason for the protests, took place on Monday 8 June in Belfast. The suspect of his commission is a Sudanese asylum seeker. Videos recorded by eyewitnesses at the scene show the attacker straddling another man lying on the ground, repeatedly stabbing him. Passersby tried to stop him. The police arrested the Sudanese a few minutes later. The injured man, aged approximately 40, was hospitalized with serious injuries to his face and back. He lost his left eye in the attack.
After the footage was published, several personalities of the British extreme right began to call for protests. British authorities accused them of spreading anger on social networks.
The family of a Northern Ireland man who was injured in Monday’s attack have called for calm in response to Tuesday’s riots.
