AssetID: 55762823
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: Belfast Violence Escalates After Attack as Homes and Vehicles Set Ablaze
Caption: Belfast Violence Escalates After Attack as Homes and Vehicles Set Ablaze. Violence and disorder spread across parts of Belfast for a second consecutive night, with rioters setting fire to homes, cars and a bus and prompting fears among local minority communities. In some areas, hundreds of masked men gathered on the streets, throwing bricks and bottles, lighting fires and chanting anti-immigrant slogans. Residents from migrant backgrounds reported being directly targeted, with several families forced to leave their homes or seek safety elsewhere. An African family that had lived in the area for 20 years moved out after their windows were smashed, while a Ukrainian teenager escaped after a fire broke out at the front door of her home. Police have described the disorder as serious and are continuing efforts to restore order and identify those involved. The unrest followed an attack for which police have identified a 30-year-old Sudanese man, who entered the UK in 2023 and was later granted refugee status, as the suspect. In the latest development, it has emerged that the victim of the original attack has lost an eye as a result of their injuries. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the violence, saying it was clear that people had been targeted because of their background and that such behaviour would not be tolerated. Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT
Keywords: Current Affairs & Politics,Belfast,riots,violence,stabbing,migrants,Ukraine,Africa,loyalists,nationalists,ablaze,fires,buses,houses,containers,chaos,prime minister,Keir Starmer,discrimination,nationality,ethnicity,far right,Northern Ireland,minorities,local community
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