Belfast riots latest: ‘Racist’ masked gang chases nurse chased into hospital as 12 police injured in violent protests

PSNI assistant chief constable Ryan Henderson appealed for calm as he said children in Northern Ireland need to feel safe to return to school.

“The streets of Northern Ireland need to return to calm and order,” he said.

“Our children need to feel safe returning to their schools. Businesses need to feel they could open their doors.

“Everyone with influence needs to do all in their power to get the thugs off our streets.”

Police will be “back on the ground” in Belfast with “bolstered” numbers on Thursday evening, PSNI assistant chief constable Ryan Henderson has said.

He told a press conference in Belfast: “Tonight, we will be back on the ground in significant numbers.

“Our numbers, bolstered by our colleagues from Great Britain, who are joining us on mutual aid, will see officers deployed all across Northern Ireland to protect our communities and to prevent disorder.

“Let me be clear, there can be peaceful protest, it is part of a democratic society. What we saw bears no resemblance to that.”

Police chiefs appealed directly to social media companies to help control “toxic” and “criminal” messages online.

Assistant chief constable Henderson said: “I want to appeal directly to social media companies. If you are hosting material content on your sites that is encouraging disorder, that needs to stop.”

He added: “It’s not helpful, we need to get back to normal, they have a part to play in doing that.”

No arrests have been made over social media activity at this stage, he said.

The PSNI said some police officers were injured by petrol bombs following “significant rioting” in Northern Ireland last night.

Speaking at a press conference at PSNI headquarters in Belfast, Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said: “I want to strongly condemn the second night of disorder seen in some areas across Northern Ireland.

“This violent behaviour by a thuggish minority will not be tolerated.

“Last night we saw significant disorder in Newtownabbey and Portadown.

“We, the police, used water cannon and fired 20 AEP (Attenuating Energy Projectiles) to quell that disorder.

“We arrested 16 people, two have already been charged. 12 officers were injured, some by petrol bombs, following that significant rioting.”

Two people have been charged following disorder in Northern Ireland on Wednesday evening following the Belfast stabbing attack, PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said.

He added 16 arrests were also made.

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) assistant chief constable Ryan Henderson has given a stark warning to those wanting to riot or those who have committed violence during the protests in Belfast.

“It was clear from the outset that those who attended were not intent on peaceful protest, they were intent on violence,” he said.

“My clear message to those who have taken part in violence or are thinking of taking to our streets: the stakes for you are high. We’ll bring you to justice, and I know the judiciary in Northern Ireland stands ready to give long sentences to those bringing disorder to our streets.”

“Tonight we will be back on the streets in significant numbers”

Police are now briefing the media on the protests last night.

They start by saying they “strongly condemn” the second night of disorder in Belfast.

MPs are remembering Jo Cox, the Labour MP murdered in her constituency as the tenth anniversary of her death approaches.

In her maiden speech made in Parliament, Ms Cox famously said: “We are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us.”

Her friend, minister Alison McGovern, told MPs in the Commons: “I am conscious that we meet today with events in Belfast causing fear and distress for affected children and their families.

“Hateful rhetoric is never just words.. It has consequences, and I’m thinking of all of those who are dealing with the consequences.”

Police officers in Scotland were injured amid disorder outside an asylum hotel, following the stabbing in Belfast on Monday.

Three officers sustained minor injuries after items were thrown at them in the Inverclyde town and two police vehicles were damaged.

Two men were arrested and issued with fixed-penalty notices for anti-social behaviour offences.

Police Scotland condemned the violence and said inquiries are ongoing.

The protest took place at the Holiday Inn Express hotel, which has been used to house asylum seekers.