Belfast another appalling attack, we need to ask what is driving this.

Apparently Loyalist Paramilitaries were behind the attack on him in 2001 and its Loyalist Paramilitaries behind the house fires, ethnic pogroms and attacks on police and NHS staff who are not white. No surprise - they had their balaclavas and stashes of weapons ready behind their front doors. Loyalists/Patriots - just violent racist thugs.

Maremia

I wonder how technically difficult it would be to block X, if Musk refuses to delete the inciting posts?

I believe it would be possible. The problem is that it could still be accessed with a VPN, so anybody interested in keeping in touch with their groups could do so easily.

Additionally, any government blocking X would have to be very brave because there would be an outcry about "freedom of speech".

StoneofDestiny

Apparently Loyalist Paramilitaries were behind the attack on him in 2001 and its Loyalist Paramilitaries behind the house fires, ethnic pogroms and attacks on police and NHS staff who are not white. No surprise - they had their balaclavas and stashes of weapons ready behind their front doors. Loyalists/Patriots - just violent racist thugs.

I cant help wondering if they have a large part in what is happening right now, maybe we will find out in the trials, I don't want to second guess.

And who is so keen to prosecute the veterans of the Troubles? Who represented members of the IRA?
Starmer and Hermer.

Just heard that the Sudanese attacker was a policeman in his own country. Pity he didn’t stay there!

Primrose53

Just heard that the Sudanese attacker was a policeman in his own country. Pity he didn’t stay there!

Apparently only for a few months and then he left

No excuse for him but he probably awful things beyond our imagining.

Probably experienced

This is interesting, and chilling. It looks as though the attack was an excuse for what was brewing to happen, but it was going to happen regardless.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jun/11/police-warned-addresses-targeted-belfast-riots

nanna8

No excuse for him but he probably awful things beyond our imagining.

So what? Even dreadful experiences do not encourage right minded people to attack and try to behead somebody.

Don’t recall hearing about our soldiers who witnessed terrible atrocities during both wars, beheading people.

Maremia

I wonder how technically difficult it would be to block X, if Musk refuses to delete the inciting posts?

It can be done by the click of a few buttons.
China, Russia, did it.
China banned Google years ago.

I watched a piece this morning from Ukraine.
It featured a small number of protesters.
What were they protesting about?
Migrant workers from India.
The problem being that they don’t integrate, don’t learn the language.

petra

Maremia

I wonder how technically difficult it would be to block X, if Musk refuses to delete the inciting posts?

It can be done by the click of a few buttons.
China, Russia, did it.
China banned Google years ago.

The difference is that the Chinese wouldn't get very far if they protested. Can you imagine the outcry if X were to be blocked in the UK?

Tuliptree

Criticising the fast track system is one thing, saying he was here illegally is simply not true.

Indeed. It’s that sort of misinformation that results in the rioting we’re seeing in NI.

Casdon

They definitely weren’t children when I was watching Silvershadow, you could tell by their size and girth. That was at about 10pm though, there were several hundred of them, maybe the children had gone home by then.

Our kids were 6ft and 5ft 10 at 15 (boy and girl).

Goodness, Basgetti - what were you feeding your children?!
I raised a set of Borrowers.

Casdon

This is interesting, and chilling. It looks as though the attack was an excuse for what was brewing to happen, but it was going to happen regardless.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jun/11/police-warned-addresses-targeted-belfast-riots

I read that yesterday also Casdon. That is the Police Service of Northern Ireland were warned over the past eight months that anti-immigration activists were circulating the addresses of properties that were targeted in this week’s Belfast riots. And particularly warned of a growing focus on houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) by anti-immigration and far-right figures, something first observed in August 2025.

The warnings suggest the far right and anti immigration groups wait for a trigger incident and then rally online to incite violent protest with a focus on those properties.

Chocolatelovinggran

Goodness, Basgetti - what were you feeding your children?!
I raised a set of Borrowers.

🤣
Nothing out of the ordinary. Dad was 6ft in his prime, I, 5ft 8.
Goodness knows how tall our grandson will be: with mum at just shy of 6ft as an adult and her husband 6’ 4”. Our son is 23 now, 6’ 5”!

Whyllow3, I was talking about local people.
No one could condone the violence in Belfast, disgusting and rioters should pay for it and do time in prison. Violence is abhorrent. However Government need to listen to communities.

The riots are predictable as a huge majority of British people do not want illegal immigrants in this country. They have no papers or passports and therefore may have fled their country because of crimes they have committed. The UK is not a safe country anymore for them to come to as public unrest is at an all time high. In NI people were trying to get to the hotel that was housing illegal immigrants and god only knows what they were planning to do. The scale of damage is off the wall in Belfast with houses and cars burning and anyone not white being targeted, even nurses. People were accepting non white people before these illegal immigrants came but now turned their rage on all of them. I find this quite disgusting as these people have built a life there now.
Until our government deports illegal immigrants and turns back the boats I think this racism will continue sadly.
I just think people feel its unfair that while British people are homeless sleeping on the streets and in vans, tents etc illegal immigrants are put in hotels and HMOs.

sazz1

The riots are predictable as a huge majority of British people do not want illegal immigrants in this country. They have no papers or passports and therefore may have fled their country because of crimes they have committed. The UK is not a safe country anymore for them to come to as public unrest is at an all time high. In NI people were trying to get to the hotel that was housing illegal immigrants and god only knows what they were planning to do. The scale of damage is off the wall in Belfast with houses and cars burning and anyone not white being targeted, even nurses. People were accepting non white people before these illegal immigrants came but now turned their rage on all of them. I find this quite disgusting as these people have built a life there now.
Until our government deports illegal immigrants and turns back the boats I think this racism will continue sadly.
I just think people feel its unfair that while British people are homeless sleeping on the streets and in vans, tents etc illegal immigrants are put in hotels and HMOs.

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

The riots were predictable because agitators have been preparing and waiting for the 'trigger ' event which sadly occurred. (See one of the posts upthread.)
Didn't Hitler's thugs do the same in the 1930's, to the innocent Jewish citizens?
Are you saying we should be pandering to the wishes of foreign funded agitators?
No thanks.

Maremia

The riots were predictable because agitators have been preparing and waiting for the 'trigger ' event which sadly occurred. (See one of the posts upthread.)
Didn't Hitler's thugs do the same in the 1930's, to the innocent Jewish citizens?
Are you saying we should be pandering to the wishes of foreign funded agitators?
No thanks.

No YOU are saying that!!

sazz1

The riots are predictable as a huge majority of British people do not want illegal immigrants in this country. They have no papers or passports and therefore may have fled their country because of crimes they have committed. The UK is not a safe country anymore for them to come to as public unrest is at an all time high. In NI people were trying to get to the hotel that was housing illegal immigrants and god only knows what they were planning to do. The scale of damage is off the wall in Belfast with houses and cars burning and anyone not white being targeted, even nurses. People were accepting non white people before these illegal immigrants came but now turned their rage on all of them. I find this quite disgusting as these people have built a life there now.
Until our government deports illegal immigrants and turns back the boats I think this racism will continue sadly.
I just think people feel its unfair that while British people are homeless sleeping on the streets and in vans, tents etc illegal immigrants are put in hotels and HMOs.

It is a myth that Asylum seekers have more rights or take away any legal rights from UK homeless residents. All those homeless in the UK have legal rights- i.e. guarantee that local councils must provide advice and assistance if you are legally homeless or will become homeless within the next 8 weeks. You do not need to be sleeping rough to qualify; "sofa surfing," fleeing domestic abuse, or living in severely overcrowded or unsafe conditions qualifies you for statutory support. Gov.uk

Statutory Council Duties
Depending on your circumstances (such as having dependent children, a vulnerability, or fleeing abuse), the local council may owe you specific legal duties:
Prevention Duty If you are threatened with homelessness within 56 days (e.g., via a valid eviction notice), the council must take reasonable steps to help you keep your home or find alternative accommodation
Relief Duty If you are already homeless, the council must take reasonable steps to help you secure accommodation regardless of whether you are deemed "intentionally homeless".
Main Housing Duty If you have a "priority need" (e.g., pregnancy, dependent children, vulnerability due to age/disability, or fleeing domestic abuse), the council must secure settled accommodation for you
Emergency (Interim) Accommodation: If there is reason to believe you are homeless, eligible for help, and in priority need, the council must provide you and your household with emergency interim accommodation while your full application is assessed

I do believe Suella Braverman went on record with her view that being homeless is a lifestyle choice. She defected from the Conservative Part to Reform UK but I am unclear what Reform UK’s stance is regarding those in the UK who are homeless.

Asylum seekers in the UK have no right to mainstream council housing, homelessness assistance, or housing benefits. Instead, destitute individuals can apply for Home Office asylum support, which provides basic, no-choice accommodation managed by private providers (such as Mears, Serco, or Clearsprings).

Home Office Support (Section 95)

Eligibility Available to those who are destitute and have an active, undecided asylum claim or appeal.
No-Choice Dispersal You cannot choose where you live. Placements are made across the UK, often in shared houses, flats, or contingency accommodations like hotels.
Financial Allowance If placed in self-catering accommodation, you receive £49.18 per week for food and essentials. If placed in full-board accommodation (like a hotel), you receive a £9.95 weekly allowance.

Housing Rights Restrictions
No Right to Rent in Private Sector: While awaiting a decision, you cannot independently rent in the private sector in England because you will not pass the 'Right to Rent' immigration checks.
Social Housing Ban You are completely ineligible for local authority (council) housing.
Exceptions You are permitted to stay privately with family or friends without using Home Office housing, and you can apply for a "subsistence-only" support payment.

What Happens When a Decision is Made

If Refused Home Office support and housing are typically withdrawn. You may be eligible to apply for basic "Section 4" support if you are destitute and taking steps to leave the UK or face a barrier preventing departure.
If Granted Refugee Status You are granted access to public funds, the labour market, and social housing. You can apply to your local council as homeless or join the housing register. Note that you will generally have a brief grace period (typically 28 to 42 days) to vacate your asylum accommodation on