Houses, vehicles and businesses are alight across Belfast this evening as protestors have taken to the streets following a horrorific knife attack on Monday evening.
Fireworks have been thrown at homes and flares into properties, while frightened residents, including children, are evacuated from their properties.
Northern Ireland’s first minister has condemned tonight’s action on social media. Michelle O’Neill says that “groups of masked men burning families out of their homes is nothing less than disgusting cowardice”.
Images from the scene show huge flames engulf vehicles and properties, with a Gilder bus having also been set alight.
A Sudanese suspect has been charged with attempted murder after the alleged knife attack. The victim is in hospital with serious injuries.
Express reporter Conor Wilson is in Belfast. He says there is a “nasty atmosphere” in the Northern Irish capital as homes are targeted and fires started.
Conor added that one house appears to have been targeted with five or six lads kicking the door and storming in.
He said: “One house was targeted, five or six lads kicked the door and ran in. Kicked the doors, smashed the windows, ripped the frame out, smashed a car and set it on fire.”
Chief Constable Jon Boutcher had warned people against being influenced “from afar through social media” in the wake of a knife attack.
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