Key facts
- Police were warned for months about addresses targeted in Belfast riots.
- A list of addresses, reportedly targeting immigrant housing, circulated on social media amid violence.
- Immigrant families expressed fear and planned to leave the city.
- Community members are providing support to neighbors.
- Racist incidents in Northern Ireland have reached record levels.
Police in Belfast were repeatedly warned for months about addresses being targeted by anti-immigration activists, but failed to take sufficient action, according to reports. A list of addresses, reportedly targeting houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) where immigrants live, began circulating on social media as widespread violence broke out across the city.
Immigrant families living in Belfast expressed profound fear and planned to leave the city. Joseph and Solomon, both from Eritrea, who have leave to remain and work full-time, stated they no longer felt safe and were planning their departure. A local woman expressed her fear and concern for her neighbors, highlighting the pervasive anxiety.
Community members have responded by stepping up to look out for their neighbors. Paul Doherty, who runs a community solidarity hub, recounted a mother's distress after her children saw their home listed online. Mohammed, a Syrian refugee whose supermarket was burned down, shared his children's fear and their inability to sleep, also planning to leave.
The violence has cast a light on racism in Northern Ireland, where racist incidents reached their highest recorded level last year. Kashif Akram from the Belfast Islamic Centre noted that anti-immigration sentiment and the actions of far-right groups have normalized fear and violence. Tim Magowan of the 174 Trust described the underlying issues as a culture of division and a lack of familiarity with multi-ethnic communities.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) had received dozens of reports, including an email with a 'hitlist' of addresses in January 2026, which was known since August 2025. These warnings detailed a growing focus on HMOs by anti-immigration and far-right actors.