Everyone is scared'

Vigilantes terrorise Belfast as racist abuse normalised

- Rory Carroll

Each evening after sunset the vigilantes gather near CS Lewis Square to rove the streets with a swagger and a grandiose title: Belfast Nightwatch First Division. The group, typically numbering a dozen members, seeks out dark-skinned men and challenges them to produce identity documents and explanations for their presence in the east part of the city.

"Hey boy, I don't want to catch you around our parks any more," one member recently told a black man seated on a riverside bench. Unsatisfactory responses elicit warnings to leave Belfast or face consequences. Some interrogations are filmed and uploaded to social media, and greeted with praise from online followers. It is the latest front in a campaign of intimidation against immigrants, refugees and people of colour that has driven families from homes and prompted many to consider leaving Northern Ireland.

"It's worse than ever now. Everyone is scared," said Mohammed Idris, 51, a Sudanese refugee who lost his shop to a riot last year. "You don't know exactly what will happen the next day. I don't think I see a future here."

Another shopkeeper, who gave his name as Mo, said racist abuse had become normalised. "A few days ago a guy came up to me and said 'get the fuck back to your country'. He insulted everyone on the street and slapped a guy."

Anti-immigrant riots in England last August inspired copycat eruptions in Belfast and further emboldened a campaign of thuggery that has spread across Northern Ireland in recent years.