UMVA has learned that violent anti-immigration protests erupted in east Belfast, with protesters setting fire to a Glider bus and multiple cars and homes, forcing some people to flee their residences.
The chaos unfolded during a demonstration called in response to a recent 'brutal' knife attack in the city, which was captured on video and showed a man stabbing at the victim's head and neck while he was lying on the ground.
According to information obtained by UMVA, several cars were set alight in Lendrick Street, and Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) officers had to rescue residents from houses that caught fire.
The violence spread to other areas, including the Ligoniel Road, where several houses and vehicles were set on fire, and a police car was set alight in Portadown.
An NIFRS spokesperson described it as a 'busy evening' with 256 calls received between 7 pm and midnight, resulting in attendance at 62 incidents, mostly in the Greater Belfast Area.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) worked alongside partner agencies to respond to incidents and keep people safe, with Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson praising their efforts.
Political leaders, including Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, strongly condemned the violent scenes, describing them as 'outright thuggery' and 'disgusting cowardice'.
The PSNI has launched a 'critical incident' investigation into the knife attack, which detectives say appears to have no indication of being terror-related.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the suspect, who was arrested, had entered Northern Ireland across the Irish border in February 2023 and claimed asylum upon arrival, later being granted leave to remain in the UK until 2028.
The incident has sparked widespread concern, with Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn stating that the scenes of disorder 'are only damaging communities and putting innocent lives at risk'.
