Members of the trade union NIPSA held a protest outside the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast to show support for ethnic minority communities following a series of violent incidents in the city.

On Tuesday evening, homes and cars belonging to foreign nationals were set ablaze in North and East Belfast. A night later, clashes broke out in Newtownabbey between a crowd and police, leading to 16 arrests.

The attacks came after a Sudanese man was charged with the attempted murder of Stephen Ogilvie on Kinnaird Avenue in North Belfast on Monday. Mr Ogilvie lost his left eye and sustained deep cuts to his head, face and back.

Addressing the protest, NIPSA deputy general secretary Maria Morgan described the subsequent violence as racist and appalling. She said no single person’s actions can be blamed on an entire community, and called for solidarity to protect international workers. Highlighting their vital role in hospitals and care homes, she added that Northern Ireland is a welcoming place and that migrant communities are embraced and supported.