"Race-based pogrom" and "huge act of self-harm by mindless idiots who are actually only damaging their own futures".

[Batmanisaplaceinturkey]

Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill says "groups of masked men" were "burning families out of their homes"

One pastor in north Belfast says black people's homes were targeted, while an MP tells the BBC there was a "race-based pogrom"

The PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher says the violent disorder in Belfast was a "huge act of self-harm by mindless idiots who are actually only damaging their own futures".

I agree with all the quotes. Sick of mindless racist thugs and their 'protests', where they look like they are enjoying themselves while they commit violence and set fire to things.

Meanwhile the far right billionaire tech bros who are partly responsible, by funding and influencing this unrest, are watching from afar and laughing. Sick entertainment for them.

Racist thugs - no justification whatsoever

Yes. The attack in Belfast on Monday night was horrific, but the violent targeting of innocent people who happen to share the perpetrator's skin colour is also horrific.

These people are absolutely mindless idiots and they are utterly devoid of even the most basic understanding of right and wrong.

The people who are deliberately whipping up hate and inciting violence to further their own political agendas are the lowest of the low.

I think there is a feeling of inevitability around all this now. Our political class are so incompetent and the national mood so febrile, that a summer of rioting has become something of a national past time.

It's the time of year isn't it. Any reason for some people to riot.

Just got a text, all our classes have been cancelled and the building closed with immediate effect because of the planned riots protests.

Unfortunately not everyone can close up and go. There's a lot of fear in Belfast today. None of it is fear of foreigners.😢

Am in town and public transport has been suspended. Thankfully I dont have far to go. Some of the people at the bus stop live miles away.

So sorry @TooBigForMyBoots, it must be so scary.

Having seem some of the threads on here last night, this kind of response is becoming more and more acceptable. People aren't interested in facts, or actual workable solutions, it's a competition to see who can be the most outraged.

This. Peaceful protest is acceptable but targeting innocent people's homes is appalling.

Damage to public property just leads to community deprivation. It's stupid & pointless.

Are you heading out to riot in your area @scatterolight?

Who are the "correct targets" @scatterolight

Those poor people, having no option but to set fire to innocent people's homes.

The UK has no open borders

But continue to use immigration to justify the riots and violence. Egged on by tommy robinson from the safety of Russia.

Bollocks. The thugs involved last night will riot at the drop of a hat. If you think they are just ordinary folk who are fed up, you are very much mistaken.

Blaming it on "far right billionaires" is a bit of a stretch. Isn't it the usual suspects and tactics from the troubles era? I doubt a few social media posts convinced any peaceful protestors last night to torch someone's house instead.

The border between the UK and Ireland is completely open. Doesn't seem to be much of one on the south coast of England either.

Those torching houses and busses were not protestors, let alone peaceful ones.

They came prepared.

I heard Karla Lockhart interviewed on the radio this morning. She took part in a protest against a pro-Palestine march at the weekend alongside masked men. She would not condemn last night's violence. That violence is not what the community wants. A small minority of racist thugs are just looking for any excuse to kick off. And people like her seek to legitimise it.

YANBU. Very disturbing to see images of balaclava-clad men going house to house looking for immigrants.

Stephen Ogilvie's family has released a statement:

We want to say a profound thank you to the local people who bravely stepped in during the attack. Your quick actions absolutely saved his life, and we will never forget what you did for him in that moment. We also want to thank the emergency services and the doctors and nurses looking after him.

We are aware of the tensions and talk of protests following this incident. We want to make it absolutely clear that overnight unrest is not welcome, and peaceful protest is the only way forward.

We have many migrants who make a deeply valuable contribution to our country, including in our healthcare system and hospitality sector and we depend on them to make our country work. We do not want this terrible tragedy to be used to divide people or fuel hostility

It gives them confirmation that they are right. That the world's richest man is on their side, so they can't be wrong.

And the money of course going to the core. The money that is used to continually throw petrol on.

As part of the GFA

Agreed, but still completely open.

And the issue is?