Serious riots broke out in Belfast after a man was injured in a knife attack, the BBC reports. Police deployed water cannons to disperse the crowd. The violence is directed against immigrants and recalls the unrest of the Troubles.
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn condemned the riots sharply. “There is no justification for it, and nothing can excuse it,” he told the BBC. People from ethnic minorities are very frightened. Benn announced that the police in Northern Ireland would receive reinforcements from the Scottish police, including dog units to support public order.
The chief of the Northern Ireland police (PSNI), Jon Boutcher, called on the public not to be “carried away” by online views from people who “know nothing about Northern Ireland.” Benn also pointed to the responsibility of social media: the government will present new powers next week to have illegal content removed more quickly.
Source: www.bbc.com
