Nineteen now arrested over disorder with house targeted in arson

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Nineteen now arrested over disorder with house targeted in arson6 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleClaire QuinnBBC News NIBBCIncidents included an arson attack on a house in the Shore Road area of north Belfast on Thursday nightNineteen people - including a 16-year-old-boy - have now been arrested following the violence in parts of Northern Ireland this week. Thursday night was relatively quiet although police say an arson attack in north Belfast is linked to the disorder. The fire service was called to the Shore Road on Thursday night where a blaze had been set at the rear of a house - there are no reports of injuries.

A leading member of the Indian community in Londonderry has said some health care professionals from overseas have told him they are now questioning whether they should have come to Northern Ireland at all. In an update on the disorder, police also said they were alerted to race-hate graffiti in the Dee Street and Newtownards Road area of east Belfast. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) say its policing operation will remain over the weekend to ensure public order is maintained.

The Details

'Their houses are gone, their cars are gone'Dr Mukesh Chugh has lived and worked as a doctor in Derry for more than 20 years. "We hear especially from people who come from different nations and people of different colour - their houses are gone, their cars are gone, their windows are smashed," he told Radio Foyle's North West Today programme. Dr Mukesh Chugh said some health care professionals from overseas have told him they are now questioning whether they should have come to Northern Ireland"We're in a WhatsApp group and there are messages floating that a certain family has been made homeless overnight and they were a family with small kids.

"I believe that people are anxious, people are in fear and they need reassurance at this point. "The disorder was sparked after footage of a knife attack in north Belfast on Monday night was shared widely on social media. Hadi Alodid, a 30-year-old originally from Sudan, appeared in court on Wednesday charged with attempted murder over a knife attack in north Belfast on Monday that caused serious injuries to the victim, Stephen Ogilvie.

People were pulled from their homes as fires burned in Belfast on TuesdayViolence broke out across Northern Ireland on Tuesday night, with homes, businesses and vehicles targeted. Further disorder followed on Wednesday, particularly in Glengormley and Portadown, where police came under attack and deployed water cannon. Police said 12 officers were injured and 16 people were arrested during Wednesday night's unrest.

What Experts Say

Dr Chugh said: "We should not judge the whole immigrant community because of one act of violence done by some person in the street. "Same goes for people who are on the roads – I don't believe they represent the good Northern Irish people. "Violence cannot be the answer to violence.

"What it is going to do is create more victims.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.