Belfast City Council has agreed to financially assist business owners struck by ‘racist criminal attacks’ during disorder at the weekend.
Councillors at a special meeting yesterday condemned the ‘violent destruction and racist intimidation across the city, caused by far-right agitators’ that took place on Saturday 3 August.
The disorder saw demonstrators set fire to a business premises and attempt to march to the Belfast Islamic Centre, with three police officers left injured.
Police received four reports of assault and several of criminal damage, including ‘extensive’ damage to local businesses.
The council said: ‘We stand in solidarity with those in our minority ethnic communities across the city, who own and run businesses, contribute to our culture and identity in Belfast and make Belfast an open and welcoming place to live, work and study.’
Officers will submit a report setting out a programme of financial assistance for affected business owners.
As councillors met yesterday to discuss the disorder, rioters gathered in Belfast for a second night, hurling petrol bombs, heavy masonry and bricks at police and attempting to torch a supermarket that was also targeted on Saturday.
A man in his 50s was hospitalised following an attack that police are treating as a hate crime, with witness reports of attackers stamping on his head.
His condition is described as serious.
