Some public transport services in Belfast will be suspended for the third evening in a row, causing passengers in Northern Ireland to face another night of travel disruption.
Traffic returned to normal in Belfast on Thursday during the day following another night of violent protests, which forced Antrim Road in Glengormley to be closed after bricks and bottles were thrown at police, who responded with water cannons.
Hundreds of protesters first took to the streets in anti-immigration demonstrations on Tuesday evening following a knife attack in the city.
The family of Stephen Ogilvie, who lost an eye in the attack, condemned the second night of violence and said they were “disgusted” by the response.
Northern Ireland’s infrastructure minister described the second night of destruction as “racism, intimidation and thuggery”.
The protests have caused traffic to be seriously disrupted in Belfast and across Northern Ireland as roads were closed, and buses and trains also suspended for the past two evenings.
Here is what visitors to Belfast should know following the protests.
What happened in Belfast?
Despite calls for calm from police and political leaders, anti-immigration demonstrations in Belfast turned violent on Tuesday and Wednesday night, causing widespread destruction.
Two hundred extra police officers were on the streets after residents were forced to flee homes that were set alight on Tuesday night. Wednesday saw masked youths breaking up parts of pavements and walls of private homes to make bricks to throw at police.
Twelve police officers were injured, and 16 arrests were made in the second night of unrest.
On Tuesday, there were multiple reports of roads being blocked and vehicles set alight. Masked men set commercial bins on fire and pushed them into a Glider bus on the Newtownards Road in the east of the city on Tuesday evening.
Suspect Hadi Alodid appeared at Belfast magistrates’ court on Wednesday charged with attempted murder, threats to kill an NHS radiographer and possession of a knife.
Is traffic affected?
Northern Ireland's public transport operator, Translink, said that “in light of recent events” there will be no Belfast Metro or Glider departures operating out of Belfast after 5.30pm on Thursday, 11 June.
There will also be no Ulsterbus services operating out of Belfast after 5.30pm. Other local Ulsterbus services aside from these are expected to operate largely as normal, including Foyle Metro, with some adjustments.
Goldliner services operating within Northern Ireland will have no departures after 7.30pm. The last NI Railways services will operate on or before 8.15pm from Grand Central Station, while a reduced timetable will operate this evening on Enterprise train services.
The full list of disruptions can be found on the Translink website.
Services were suspended on Tuesday and Wednesday evening due to the anticipated attacks.
A Glider bus was set alight in east Belfast on Tuesday, prompting all bus and train services to be suspended, including buses to Belfast and Dublin airport.
Wednesday evening saw disorder along Antrim Road. TrafficWatch NI said that the Sandyknowes roundabout that leads to Antrim Road was closed last night, but reopened as of Thursday morning. Antrim Road connects Newtonabbey and Belfast.
What are the police saying?
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has strongly condemned the second night of disorder in some areas of Northern Ireland.
Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said on Thursday: “The streets of Northern Ireland need to return to calm and order. Our children need to feel safe returning to their schools and businesses need to feel they can open their doors.”
“Everyone with influence needs to do all in their power to get the thugs off our streets. I want to reassure that the PSNI is there for our communities. The Chief Constable and I are clear that we will be robust to bring order to our streets. We will do all in our part to bring order.”
Party leaders across Northern Ireland also put out a group statement following Tuesday night, calling for “calm and for space to allow justice to take its course”.
Belfast City Council has condemned the disorder. A statement read: “Belfast stands against violence, racism and hate. There is no place in Belfast for these, and our council stands in solidarity with all those affected by them.
“Disorder on our streets helps no one. It damages individual lives, local communities and businesses, our city and our wider reputation.”
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