In response to the continued racist and violent disorder spreading across Northern Ireland, Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland Director, said:

“We are in the midst of a racist pogrom. Families have already lost their homes, and lives may soon be lost unless this violence ends now. We are only a petrol bomb away from someone being killed.

“This violence is being fuelled by racist hatred - stoked by disinformation on social media and amplified by politicians who irresponsibly conflate immigration with crime and social issues which affect all communities.

“We need politicians to speak truthfully about immigration, not echo vague concerns from the streets or false claims on social media that profit off lies.

“According to the 2021 census, only 3.4% people in Northern Ireland are from minority ethnic backgrounds. That means 96.6% are not. We remain the whitest and least diverse part of the UK and Ireland.

“While immigration has gradually increased over the last decade, crime rates have fallen – except for racially motivated hate crime, which is now higher than sectarian hate crime. People from immigrant and minoritised communities are far more likely to be victims of hate crime than anyone else.

“Recent research from the Northern Ireland Assembly highlights migrant workers are vital in sustaining essential public services, including hospitals and community care. We must do more to protect their rights to live free from harassment and violence - we should recognise, thank, and celebrate them for their contributions to and enrichment of our communities.”