Footage circulating online shows a rioter set himself on fire when trying to throw a petrol bomb
A rioter set himself alight while trying to throw a petrol bomb in Wednesday evening’s disorder.
The protestor’s jacket set on fire as he attempted to throw the device in Portadown.
Footage shared on social media shows three masked protestors gathering before trying to chuck the petrol bomb and then running away after one sets himself alight.
He continues to run closer to the camera patting his back in an attempt to control the flames.
Wednesday night saw another evening of disorder in Belfast and across Northern Ireland following the horrific knife attack on Monday evening.
In Belfast, police deployed water cannons on protesters in Co Antrim after they were pelted with bricks and footage showed dozens of men dressed all in black and wearing face coverings taking wheelie bins from outside homes and lighting fires in them.
In the Portadown area police deployed dogs to tackle the violence expected to erupt.
A house in the area has also been petrol bombed, according to reports.
Following from the chaos that hit the streets on Tuesday evening, the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland stated disorder on the streets of Northern Ireland is an “act of self-harm” to communities.
Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said: “This disorder is an insult to the victim of this assault, an insult to the members of the public who bravely stepped forward to save his life and the officers who rushed to the scene.
“The criminal justice system needs to take its course. Let that follow due process. A man has appeared in court today charged with this attempted murder and, separately, another man has been charged with riot following the scenes in Newtownabbey. I’d appeal to everyone in Northern Ireland to take control. “If you have a niece, nephew, brother, sister or a member of your local sports club, if you’ve seen them at the disorder, stop them from coming out today. This has got to stop. We cannot have a society that allows this to happen.”
Wednesday’s night action has been condemned by leaders, after fires were ignited at the Sandyknowles roundabout.
Northern Ireland’s Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said a second night of destruction and disruption “needs to be condemned in the strongest possible way”.
“It is racism, it is intimidation and absolute thuggery,” she said.
“These acts serve no one and only cause harm and fear within communities. It is disgraceful and disgusting.
“I utterly condemn the incident at my department’s depot in Sandyknowes and the further disruption we have seen with transport services suspended and businesses closing early.
“I thank the police for their response and I reiterate the calls for this violence to stop.”
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