Thousands Rally in Belfast to Condemn Anti-Immigrant Violence
7 verified5 unconfirmed
Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Belfast on Saturday for an anti‑racism rally denouncing days of anti‑immigrant rioting that followed a stabbing blamed on an asylum seeker. The peaceful protest, held outside Belfast City Hall, came after masked men set homes and vehicles on fire, attacked police with bricks and Molotov cocktails, and left dozens homeless. The violence erupted after a video of a knife attack went viral; a 30‑year‑old Sudanese national has been charged with attempted murder. In Glasgow, Scotland, an anti‑racism march was met by a smaller group of men who made Nazi‑style salutes, prompting the counter‑protesters to shout “Nazi scum off our streets.” Police in Glasgow said the protest passed without major incident. Both rallies reflected a broader backlash against far‑right and racist violence that flared in parts of the UK this week.
What’s verified
Thousands of people joined an anti‑racism rally in Belfast on Saturday to condemn anti‑immigrant rioting that occurred earlier in the week.
The riots followed a stabbing in which a 30‑year‑old Sudanese man was arrested and charged with attempted murder.
Rioters set homes and cars on fire and threw bricks, bottles and Molotov cocktails at police.
The rally was held outside Belfast City Hall.
Elaine Crory told the crowd: “All it takes is for one person who’s not white and local to commit a crime and that fire of racism is rekindled.”
In Glasgow, an anti‑racism protest was met by a small group of men who made Nazi salutes; the anti‑racism group shouted “Nazi scum off our streets.”
Glasgow police reported the protest passed “without major incident” and had a significant security operation in place.
Not yet confirmed
One source estimated the Belfast rally at 3,000 people; the other did not provide a specific number.
One source reported the stabbing victim was left partly blind; the other said he sustained serious injuries and remains in hospital.
One source noted that the violence left more than two dozen people homeless and injured 12 police officers; the other did not cite those figures.
One source mentioned that Belfast’s mayor, Rois‑Maire Donnelly, received death threats this week; the other did not.
Neither source answered how many individuals were arrested in connection with the rioting.
Key figures
Elaine Crory, lobbyist and speaker at the Belfast rally
Rois‑Maire Donnelly, Mayor of Belfast (mentioned in one source)
30‑year‑old Sudanese man, charged with attempted murder
44‑year‑old man, victim of the stabbing (mentioned in one source)
