Key facts
- Thousands attended an anti-racism rally in Belfast following recent anti-immigrant riots.
- The riots involved arson attacks on homes and vehicles, and assaults on police.
- A stabbing incident, blamed on an asylum seeker, preceded the unrest.
- Demonstrators carried signs condemning racism and supporting refugees.
- Similar anti-racism rallies occurred in Glasgow, Scotland.
Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Belfast on Saturday to denounce anti-immigrant rioters who set fire to homes and cars earlier in the week, following a stabbing incident blamed on an asylum seeker. The anti-racism rally occurred after nights of violence in Northern Ireland, during which masked groups torched properties believed to house immigrants and attacked police officers. Officials described the unrest as "thuggery," which left over two dozen people homeless and injured 12 police officers. Demonstrators at the rally carried signs with messages such as "The problem is evil & violence not race" and "Protect people not prejudice." Some attendees noted the contrast between the violence and the city's broader sentiment. Similar anti-racism demonstrations took place in Glasgow, Scotland, where far-right groups were also active.