THOUSANDS of demonstrators gathered in Belfast on Saturday to denounce racist rioters who set fire to homes and cars earlier in the week after a brutal stabbing blamed on an asylum-seeker.

The anti-racism rally came after nights of fiery violence in parts of Northern Ireland following the arrest of Hadi Alodid, originally from Sudan, on charges of attempted murder in a stabbing that left the victim Stephen Ogilvie partly blind.

Protests turned violent when groups of masked men set fire to several homes they believed to house immigrants, torched a bus and pelted police with bricks, bottles and firebombs. 

More than two dozen people were left homeless and 12 police officers were injured in what officials called “thuggery,” and others described as “racist” violence.

Saturday’s peaceful protest was organised by the campaign group United Against Racism (UAR). 

Ivanka Antova, the chair of UAR Belfast, told the rally outside the City Hall: “This week we witnessed something we will never forget. The scenes of families and young children fleeing their homes in terror.

“There is nothing legitimate about racist pogroms, and racism has no place in our city.”

“All it takes is for one person who’s not white and local to commit a crime and that fire of racism is rekindled,” Elaine Crory told the rally.

Signs carried by demonstrators included “the problem is evil & violence not race,” “your racism is not patriotism” and “protect people not prejudice.”

Newlyweds Cara Bell and Matthew Richardson said it was a happy coincidence to emerge from getting married in City Hall and join the peaceful demonstration after the ugly violence they witnessed earlier in the week.

“Things like today really show that this is not the general feeling of people in Belfast,” Ms Bell said, saying that it was “a week where you’ve seen the worst of humanity and the best of humanity in Belfast.”