The Police Service of Northern Ireland has dismissed suggestions that its handling of recent disorder in Belfast was improper, stating that 35 arrests have been made and 23 people charged so far. Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said 42 officers were injured while working “under incredibly challenging conditions” to restore calm.

His statement came after First Minister Michelle O’Neill demanded an investigation into claims that officers near the Mater Hospital advised nursing staff to show their identification to masked gangs at makeshift roadblocks. Mr Henderson said police are checking records and have contacted the Belfast Trust and senior hospital staff, but no one has yet come forward directly with such a report.

The disorder erupted following a knife attack in north Belfast in which a man in his 40s lost an eye. A 30-year-old Sudanese national, Hadi Alodid, appeared at Belfast Magistrates’ Court charged with attempted murder on Wednesday. Police said a man was arrested and charged within 24 hours of the incident.

What followed, Mr Henderson said, was “inexcusable lawlessness” across Belfast and beyond. Mobs set homes, a bus and cars on fire, and people were targeted based on race. Multiple reports emerged of foreign national healthcare workers being intimidated. Officers rescued residents from burning properties, including a two-month-old baby, and have maintained a heightened presence in towns and cities.

Ms O’Neill described the alleged advice to nurses as disgraceful and said she had been told by hospital staff that they stood with police and were told to show their IDs to masked men. She raised the matter directly with Chief Constable Jon Boutcher, who she said initially dismissed it but later acknowledged that both she and Health Minister Mike Nesbitt had been given the account by staff members.

The health minister told an urgent Stormont session that he had heard “horrendous stories” at the Mater, including one young nurse who had to negotiate her way through rioters and barricades at Carlisle Circus. He said the chief constable took the matter seriously. Mr Nesbitt listed security measures in place, including 24-hour security teams, regular patrols, CCTV monitoring and liaison with police. The Belfast Trust met the deputy chief constable on June 11, after which police presence at the Mater increased visibly.

Mr Henderson detailed efforts to protect healthcare workers, including deploying significant resources near hospitals, engaging with the Royal College of Nursing and union Unison, and holding drop-in crime prevention sessions. Police also received reports of vehicles being stopped by masked individuals and responded immediately.

The force said extreme anti-immigration disinformation had circulated on social media throughout the disorder. No justification existed for the violence, Mr Henderson added, and those responsible would face the full weight of the law. Charges include riotous behaviour, attempted criminal damage, possession of offensive weapons and assault on police-designated persons.

Over the weekend, isolated incidents continued: two men were arrested after criminal damage in the Donegall Avenue area of south Belfast, and a house in north Belfast was targeted in an arson attack. A “Together Against Hate” rally drew an estimated 3,000 people outside Belfast City Hall on Saturday afternoon.

Police urged anyone with information on crimes or who experienced intimidation to contact them on 101, or 999 in an emergency.