POLICE IN ANTRIM have deployed water cannons against groups of youths after they were pelted with bricks.

Additional police officers are on the streets in the North after a night of racist attacks on people in their homes, which were set on fire along with businesses owned by ethnic minorities. A bus and a number of other vehicles were also set on fire.

Last night’s violence in Belfast came after a brutal stabbing attack that left a man with life-changing injuries. The victim remains in hospital and the alleged attacker, Hadi Alodid from Sudan, has been charged with attempted murder.

This evening, a large Department for Infrastructure vehicle was in flames as people confronted the police after they gathered near the Sandyknowes roundabout in Newtownabbey to the north west of Belfast.

Police use water cannons to disperse people in Newtownabbey Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Footage showed dozens of men dressed all in black and wearing face coverings gathering on Antrim Road, where they could be seen tearing bricks from properties and smashing paving stones with sledgehammers to create projectiles to throw at riot police.

They could also be seen taking wheelie bins from outside homes and lighting fires in them.

Videos shared on social media showed people attempting to march to the Chimney Corner Hotel, with riot police and several vans being deployed to manage the demonstrations.

BREAKING: Water cannons are deployed at protestors in Belfast by police@TomSkyNews reports live from the scene https://t.co/fgGmR9VUGV

📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/kn9ZSXVfJD

— Sky News (@SkyNews) June 10, 2026

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said officers deployed water cannons to maintain public order after missiles were thrown at police.

In Derry, police reported items having been set alight on the Ardmore Road.

Today, public transport was suspended and some schools closed early amid fears of a second night of violence.

With reporting from Press Association