Northern Ireland’s Justice Minister Naomi Long said some people had ignored calls for calm.
“They are intent on wreaking destruction on the very communities they claim they are trying to protect,” Long said.
“They are weaponising the genuine hurt, concern and anger that people are feeling for their own misguided purposes.”
“There is no place for masked thugs to take to the streets and threaten, intimidate, disrupt and cause wanton damage – it is simply disingenuous to claim this is being carried out for the good of Northern Ireland.”
Long said she would again appeal to communities “not to allow themselves to be used and abused in this manner.”
“Disorder on the streets, such as we are seeing tonight, is diverting valuable police resources away from those who genuinely need them,” she said.
“These are not the actions of people who genuinely care about their communities.”
“While I recognise and understand the concerns following on from the attack in north Belfast, hate cannot be allowed to win.”
