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The Guardian World1 min read
Water cannon fired in latest disorder after Belfast knife attack
TL;DR
A water cannon was used to disperse crowds in Northern Ireland following a knife attack in Belfast. The situation escalated with rioters attacking police, leading to public transport shutdowns and early school closures.
Key points
- Water cannon deployed in Northern Ireland
- Crowds attacked police with bricks and bottles
- Public transport shut down across Northern Ireland
- Some schools closed early due to unrest
- Disorder occurred at Sandyknowes roundabout
A water cannon has been deployed to disperse a large crowd after a second night of disorder in Northern Ireland following the Belfast knife attack.
Riot police came under sustained attack from a group throwing bricks, bottles and pieces of wood at a major roundabout to the north-west of Belfast.
Additional officers were drafted in but Wednesday's disorder was not on the same scale as Tuesday's violence.
Public transport shut down across Northern Ireland and some schools closed early on Wednesday ahead of any disruption. Belfast city centre was deserted after many businesses shut up shop by lunchtime.
The cannon was deployed at the Sandyknowes roundabout in Glengormley, about eight miles (13km) north-west of Belfast city centre.
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.
It seems they were trying to get close to a hotel which houses asylum seekers.
There have been protests elsewhere in Northern Ireland but they have been largely peaceful.
In east Belfast, where there was major trouble on Tuesday, about 150 people gathered amid a large police presence. Police said there was little trouble and few arrests had been made.
More than 100 people gathered at row of houses near the Ulster University campus in Coleraine, County Londonderry.
Some of the crowd remonstrated with police about the houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) and those living in them before before finishing up.
In Derry, police advised motorists to avoid the Ardmore Road at the Church Brae junction due to items on fire.
About 140 protesters had gathered at the Stormont estate in Belfast.
Earlier, Hadi Alodid, a 30-year-old originally from Sudan, appeared in court on Wednesday charged with attempted murder over a knife attack in north Belfast on Monday that caused serious injuries to the victim, Stephen Ogilvie.
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.
His family released another statement on Wednesday night, saying he was in a stable condition. They said they had been forced to do so after "witnessing a lot of false information on social media".
Q&A
What caused the water cannon deployment in Northern Ireland?
The water cannon was deployed to disperse a large crowd following a second night of disorder related to a knife attack in Belfast.
Where did the recent violence in Belfast take place?
The violence occurred at the Sandyknowes roundabout in Glengormley, approximately eight miles north-west of Belfast city centre.
What measures were taken in response to the unrest in Belfast?
Public transport was shut down across Northern Ireland, and some schools closed early to prevent disruption amid the unrest.
How did the scale of Wednesday's violence compare to Tuesday's?
Wednesday's disorder was not on the same scale as the violence that occurred on Tuesday.
