Northern Irish leaders condemn Mosque attack near Belfast

• The attacks in County Down and Londonderry were fueled by misinformation.
• The violence was described as “wrong, unacceptable and rejected” by the majority of the community.
• The police have reported arresting 31 people in connection with the disturbances.

Northern Ireland’s First Minister and her deputy condemned the recent attack on a mosque in County Down and the violence that erupted in Londonderry on Saturday.

In the early hours of Saturday, vandals targeted the mosque in Newtownards, spraying graffiti on its front door and walls and throwing an unignited petrol bomb at the building.

In Belfast, arsonists set cars alight in what police described as racially motivated hate crimes.

Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly said the violence was “wrong, unacceptable and rejected” by the vast majority of the community. In a joint statement, they said: “They are disgraceful manifestations of criminality and have absolutely no justification.”

They continued: “Our thoughts are with those Police Service of Northern Ireland officers injured last night and the victims of recent racist attacks. This senseless violence and intimidation has no place in our society and we would appeal for calm.”

“Those responsible should be quickly brought before the courts and we urge anyone with information to provide it to the PSNI.”

The violence echoed the disorder across England last week, fueled by misinformation on social media about the suspected perpetrator of a knife attack in Southport on July 29 that killed three children.

The PSNI reported arresting 31 people in connection with the disturbances.

“They burned every single thing, there is nothing left inside, just ashes,” Bashir, whose supermarket in Belfast was torched during attacks against foreign-owned shops and businesses, told the news.

“We are scared at what may happen next, there is lots of hostility against the Muslim community,” said the 28-year-old from Dubai, who did not want to give his full name citing safety reasons.

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