Summary

  • Belfast has seen a second night of unrest prompted by a serious knife attack on Monday, with a water cannon deployed to disperse a large crowd

  • Riot police came under sustained attack from a group throwing bricks, bottles and pieces of wood

  • Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Emma Little-Pengelly tells the BBC the violent scenes from Belfast have "appalled and horrified absolutely everyone"

  • On Wednesday, a 30-year-old, originally from Sudan, appeared in court charged with attempted murder over a Belfast knife attack that caused serious injuries to victim Stephen Ogilvie

  • Ogilvie's family released statements saying he was in a stable condition and calling for calm

Live Reporting

Edited by Angus Thompson and Nathan Williams

  1. Further violence took place despite victim's family calling for calm

    Following Tuesday night's disorder, the family of knifing victim Stephen Ogilvie on Wednesday called for calm.

    "We want to make it absolutely clear that overnight unrest is not welcome, and peaceful protest is the only way forward," the family said.

    "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."

    They said they did want this "terrible tragedy to be used to divide people or fuel hostility".

    Ogilvie, who is in his 40s, has lost his left eye and has damage to his right eye, along with injuries to his neck and back.

    Hadi Alodid, a 30-year-old originally from Sudan, appeared in court on Wednesday charged with attempted murder.

  2. Bricks, bottles and pieces of wood thrown at police

    Police fire a water cannon after attack at Sandyknowes roundaboutPA Media

    Police in Belfast used a water cannon to disperse a large crowd at the Sandyknowes roundabout in Glengormley - about eight miles (13km) north-west of Belfast city centre - to disperse a large crowd after a second night of disorder in Northern Ireland.

    Riot police came under sustained attack from a group throwing bricks, bottles and pieces of wood.

    Additional officers were drafted in but Wednesday's disorder was not on the same scale as Tuesday's violence.

    An aerial view of the water cannon in action. It is pushing back people who have gathered on the road. There are trees and houses on either side of the road.

    Footage showed dozens of people dressed all in black and wearing face coverings tearing up the driveways and fences of nearby houses to use as missiles.

    A large Department for Infrastructure vehicle was seen in flames, and bins were set on fire.

    The crowd attempted to set fire to a derelict property in the same area, with some throwing petrol bombs at police lines.

    There have been protests elsewhere in Northern Ireland but they have been largely peaceful.

  3. 'They're destroying their own communities,' NI deputy first minister tells BBC

    Emma Little-Pengelly is pictured speaking to the BBC on a video livestream from what appears to be her home, with pictures on the wall in the background.

    Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Emma Little-Pengelly says the violent scenes from Belfast have "appalled and horrified absolutely everyone".

    She tells the BBC's Breakfast programme that while some peaceful protesters do have legitimate concerns, others seem determined to cause "violence, thuggery and disorder".

    "That is absolutely wrong," she says. "We of course have been united in calling for that to stop immediately."

    In response to a question about people being targeted because of the colour of their skin, Little-Pengelly says she strongly condemns those motivated by racism.

    "All they are doing is destroying their own communities, and they are destroying the very cause that they claim to be supporting."

  4. Water cannon deployed on rioters in second night of Belfast unrest

    Police deploy a water cannon against rioters in Belfast.PA Media

    Belfast is waking following another night of violent unrest which saw police deploy a water cannon against black-clad rioters in Northern Ireland's capital.

    Wednesday's violence came after crowds of masked men set fire to homes, cars and a bus the previous day following a serious knife attack in Belfast on Monday night.

    Hadi Alodid, 30, originally from Sudan, appeared in court on Wednesday charged with attempted murder. The family of Stephen Ogilvie, who suffered serious injuries in the attack, appealed for calm on the streets, urging against the incident being "used to divide people or fuel hostility".

    They echoed calls from Northern Irish and UK leaders, with prime minister calling acts of violence and arson "unjustified".

    BBC's Breakfast programme is hearing from Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Emma Little-Pengelly, with Hilary Benn, the UK secretary of state for Northern Ireland, also expected to speak soon.

    We'll bring you their latest comments here.