Justice Minister Naomi Long has issued a direct response to street disorder occurring tonight, following a joint press conference held earlier today with the First Minister, deputy First Minister, and the PSNI Chief Constable.

The Minister strongly criticised those participating in the violence, stating that individuals involved are ignoring widespread public appeals for calm and are instead causing destruction within local areas.

Minister Long said: "Earlier today, I stood beside the First Minister, deputy First Minister and the PSNI Chief Constable and we appealed for calm.

"Sadly, there are those who have chosen to ignore those pleas; they are intent on wreaking destruction on the very communities they claim they are trying to protect. 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."

The Justice Minister also emphasised that the ongoing street disturbances are placing an unnecessary strain on public services by diverting vital police resources away from standard community duties and emergency responses.

Minister Long added: "I would appeal once again 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. 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."