Britain’s minister for Northern Ireland condemned ongoing anti-immigration violence as racist thuggery Thursday, following two consecutive nights of rioting that required police to deploy water cannon against demonstrators.
Hilary Benn reported that Wednesday evening saw reduced unrest on Belfast’s streets compared to Tuesday, when rioters set fire to residences and vehicles while targeting ethnic minorities. The violence erupted after a knife attack incident, for which authorities have charged a Sudanese man with attempted murder.
On Wednesday, many confronting police were attempting to reach a hotel located outside Belfast that has previously been targeted for providing accommodation to asylum seekers.
When questioned by Sky News whether the violent incidents constituted racist riots instead of protests, Benn responded: “Well, if you are targeting people on the basis of the color of their skin, how else can you describe them? That is racist thuggery.”
The minister emphasized that the unrest has created significant psychological damage throughout the province.
“It’s really difficult to convey the genuine sense of fear there is on the part of the ethnic minority community here in Northern Ireland as they’ve witnessed these scenes, reports of people being stopped in their cars to be asked what their nationality is, nurses going to work. This is appalling,” Benn stated.
