Belfast, Northern Ireland – A mosque in Newtownards was targeted in a racially motivated attack early this morning as violence continues to grip Belfast. A petrol bomb was thrown at the mosque on Greenwell Street at around 1 a.m., but fortunately, it failed to ignite. Racist graffiti was also sprayed on the building, adding to the growing concern over recent hate crimes in the area.
According to The journal, this incident is part of a wider string of violence that has seen cars set alight in Belfast’s Tavanagh Street and Sandhurst Gardens, all of which are being treated as racially motivated hate crimes by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). Additionally, the rear door of a restaurant on Ormeau Road was damaged, and workers inside were subjected to racial slurs.
Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones condemned the violence and confirmed that five more arrests have been made, bringing the total number of arrests related to the unrest to 31. She praised the community for its support of those who have chosen to make Northern Ireland their home, stating that this better reflects the true spirit of the region.
In a separate incident, two 14-year-old boys were arrested in Derry after police discovered petrol bombs near Guildhall Square. Meanwhile, a 37-year-old man in Portrush was taken into custody on suspicion of encouraging riotous behavior online, and a 55-year-old man remains in custody on suspicion of publishing material intended to incite hatred.
Police continue to investigate these and other recent incidents as anti-racism protests are set to take place this afternoon in response to the ongoing violence.