Police Deploy Water Cannon to Disperse Crowd in Newtownabbey
Around 300 protesters were broken up with water cannon after setting fire to a vehicle and throwing bricks near the Sandyknowes roundabout, while authorities reported fewer disturbances elsewhere on Wednesday.
Police in Northern Ireland used water cannon on Wednesday night to disperse a crowd of about 300 people gathered near the Sandyknowes roundabout in Newtownabbey, eight miles north of Belfast. The demonstrators had set fire to a white van, thrown bricks and petrol bombs, and used garden fencing, tyres and furniture to create barricades. One by-stander received first-aid treatment after being struck by a rock, and a police officer was also hit on the head, though no serious injuries were reported.
The police broadcast a warning over vehicle loudspeakers, stating that water cannon would be used if the crowd did not disperse. The water cannon was deployed at approximately 11:30 p.m., after a standoff that lasted several hours. Firefighters later attended a house that remained burning, and the scene was left with debris, broken bricks and vehicle remnants.
The family of Stephen Ogilvie, who was stabbed earlier in the week, issued a statement through police, confirming that he was in stable condition and urging an end to misinformation. They emphasized that they do not support violent actions and called for peaceful protest.
Separate protests in Derry and Coleraine were reported, but overall disturbances were fewer than the previous night, when mobs targeted ethnic minorities following the stabbing. A planned protest at Belfast City Hall did not materialise, and a smaller gathering at Stormont proceeded peacefully.
Stormont ministers released a joint statement condemning the disorder, describing it as a spread of fear that endangers innocent lives and noting that the incident in north Belfast is now subject to legal proceedings. They added that some individuals are exploiting public anger for destructive purposes.
Hadi Alodid, 30, of Belfast, was charged with attempted murder in connection with the stabbing of Stephen Ogilvie and with possession of a knife in a public place on the same day.
