Belfast rioters blasted with water cannons as extra carnage breaks out on streets

Masked rioters in Northern Ireland have hurled bricks and wheelie bins at police as violence erupted for a third night in a row following Monday’s incident in Belfast, with water cannon deployed to restore order

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A teenager has been arrested after two police officers were “savagely targeted” with a petrol bomb during rioting in Co Antrim. The scenes came on Tuesday night as disorder broke out across Northern Ireland, and some parts of Great Britain, after a knife attack in Belfast caused shockwaves.

Bricks, wheelie bins and traffic cones are being hurled towards police to the north of Belfast by masked rioters. Footage revealed rioters donning face coverings and all-black clothing, moving towards police on Antrim Road in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, and trying to strike officers with bricks and other missiles.

One of the police officers injured after the throwing of the petrol bomb, while they were involved in public order duties in Carrickfergus, was taken to hospital, while the second officer was treated at the scene.

Police said an 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of riot at an address in Carrickfergus and he remained in custody on Wednesday night.

Two police officers were also injured while tackling violence in Belfast on Tuesday night. Chief Superintendent Stephen Murray said it was fortunate that the officers in Carrickfergus were not more seriously hurt.

He warned that more arrests will be made in the days ahead.

“Our officers were working to keep communities safe during disorder and were savagely targeted by a petrol bomb,” he said.

“It was fortunate they weren’t more seriously hurt. No one should be injured for doing their job – particularly when that job is working all hours to keep people from harm.

“Our investigation is picking up pace and we will be making more arrests in the days ahead.”

Some rioters could be seen attacking police vehicles although the demonstrators pulled back after a water cannon was brought in by riot police. Police have unleashed water cannons on protesters in Co Antrim after they were bombarded with bricks in the latest unrest following the Belfast knife attack, reports Belfast Live.

A large vehicle was ablaze as demonstrators faced off with police after they assembled near the Sandyknowes roundabout in Newtownabbey to the north of Belfast.

Footage revealed dozens of men clad all in black and wearing face coverings congregating on Antrim Road and lobbing objects at a line of eight police vehicles.

Videos circulated on social media showed protesters trying to march to the Chimney Corner Hotel, with riot police and several vans being sent in to control the demonstrations.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said officers unleashed water cannons to preserve public order after missiles were lobbed at officers.

In Derry, police reported items having been set ablaze on the Ardmore Road. Extra police officers have been deployed in the region following significant disturbances on Tuesday night, in the wake of Monday’s savage assault.

Public transport was halted and some schools shut early on Wednesday due to concerns over a second evening of unrest.

Earlier, Hadi Alodid, 30, faced court charged with attempted murder relating to Monday’s knife attack, during which victim Stephen Ogilvie lost an eye.

Mr Ogilvie, who is in his 40s, remains in a serious condition in a Belfast hospital. It is believed he is in an induced coma.

The response to the incident saw mobs set homes, a bus and cars ablaze on Tuesday, with individuals targeted based on their ethnicity.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer pledged to “crack down on anyone who is fuelling this division”.

Alodid appeared at Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday morning, charged with the attempted murder of Mr Ogilvie, threats to kill an NHS radiographer and possession of a knife.

The court was told Mr Ogilvie lost his left eye and sustained severe cuts to his head, face and back.

District Judge Stephen Keown denied bail after hearing police worries that there could be “significant public disorder” if he was released due to “strong public feeling” about the incident.

The judge cautioned that anyone planning to participate in further unrest in Northern Ireland should “be prepared to go to prison”.

In Westminster, security minister Dan Jarvis stated: “Reports that ethnic minorities were targeted are sickening.”

The Prime Minister described the rioting in Belfast as “shocking and completely unacceptable”.

“It is clear that people were targeted last night because of their background and I will not tolerate it,” he said.

“Those responsible will feel the full force of the law.”

Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Jon Boutcher announced that 200 additional officers would be deployed on Wednesday night.

“We will deal with this,” he said.

“We will be on the streets tonight in numbers even more than we were last night, and we have got arrangements in hand to get mutual aid that will be arriving here tomorrow.”

The force revealed that following the recent unrest, “some social media users are posting address details online”.

“We have received phone calls from a number of families, house owners, neighbours and members of the wider community who are extremely distressed as a result of this reckless activity,” a spokesperson for the PSNI said.

“This is unacceptable. It is putting lives at risk and has to stop.

“Anyone who shares personal information online with the intention to endanger others may be committing a criminal offence.”

Mr Jarvis informed MPs there had been three arrests “but more will surely follow”.

Mr Ogilvie’s family released a statement saying they were “devastated by the horrific attack” but appealed for calm.

“We are aware of the tensions and talk of protests following this incident,” the statement said. “We want to make it absolutely clear that overnight unrest is not welcome, and peaceful protest is the only way forward.

“We have many migrants who make a deeply valuable contribution to our country, including in our healthcare system and hospitality sector and we depend on them to make our country work.

“We do not want this terrible tragedy to be used to divide people or fuel hostility.”