Police in Belfast used water cannon on 11 June after crowds set fire to vehicles during a third night of protests targeting migrant communities. The violence erupted in the Glengormley area following social-media rumours linking a stabbing to asylum seekers housed nearby. Several families were evacuated from burning homes, and one bus was completely destroyed. The Police Service of Northern Ireland said agitators hurled petrol bombs and fireworks at officers, injuring six. Political leaders across the UK condemned the attacks, with Northern Ireland secretary Hilary Benn warning that “misinformation is fuelling hate and endangering lives.” The episode has opened a fresh debate over the robustness of the UK’s dispersal model for asylum accommodation in regions with limited integration infrastructure. Local business chambers fear reputational damage just as Belfast gears up for the Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup next month, an event expected to draw 30,000 overseas visitors. Travel-risk consultants advise companies to monitor PSNI alerts and consider contingency routes for employees commuting through affected suburbs. Meanwhile, civil-society groups are calling for a public-education campaign to counter online disinformation about immigration. Authorities have launched an investigation into possible organised coordination of the riots using encrypted messaging apps.
Source: Al Jazeera
