A pastor who has been helping those in houses targeted in tonight's violence says people were being put out of their homes "because they're black".

Pastor Jack McKee was at the scene where multiple houses were on fire around the Crumlin Road in north Belfast - he says some members of his church "who have been with us for 20 years" were "getting put out of their home, had their house attacked, windows smashed, houses beside them burned".

"They're good Christian people and they're getting put out just because they're black," he says.

"I'm doing my best to help them, it's as simple as that."

He adds that "obviously we're all disgusted" after the attempted murder in north Belfast last night.

"But this doesn't help anyone."

McKee says that those put out of their homes will "probably" not be able to return to the area, saying that "innocent people" are hurting.

"Men, women, children that are living in fear because of what some idiot did last night.

"I'm angry and I'm disappointed that this is the response of people in our community."

Image source, PA Media

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn says the disorder in parts of Northern Ireland tonight are "only damaging communities and putting innocent lives at risk".

Benn says that "people have been rightly shocked" by the attack in north Belfast on Monday but adds that the police must be allowed to do their job.

"There is no justification at all for this type of thuggery. I echo the call from the PSNI for this violence to end now."

This statement, posted on Benn's X account, was reposted by Prime Minister Keir Starmer's account.

Richard Morgan
BBC News NI

A significant emergency response remains here at the Crumlin Road, in north Belfast, but protestors have left the scene as the rain started.

At a house which has had its windows broken, a woman shouts through the letterbox urging the occupants to come outside.

“The pastor is here, I promise you it is safe."

The air is full of acrid smoke from the house fires and the rubbish which smoulders on the road.

Image source, Steve Aiken

Now, an incident outside Belfast, in Ballyclare about 20 miles away in County Antrim where a Turkish barber shop has been attacked.

The shop's front door and windows were smashed, with Ulster Unionist assembly member Steve Aiken saying it was not what he wanted to see in the town.

"This is our community where violence has no place - to see burning bins, broken windows & damaged shops doesn’t help anyone and just hurts our own," he says, in a post on X.

Alderman Lewis Boyle says the "violence and destruction" in Ballyclare benefits no one.

"It serves only to leave our community worse off and places residents and first responders at risk.

"There is no justification for violence. Those responsible for these acts must cease immediately and allow peace to return to our streets," the Alliance party councillor adds.

Image source, PA Media

Northern Ireland's first minister is the latest politician to condemn tonight's violence - in a post on social media, Michelle O'Neill says that "groups of masked men burning families out of their homes is nothing less than disgusting cowardice".

"This has nothing to do with community. This is outright thuggery," she adds.

"The attack in north Belfast was heinous and wrong. But there are dangerous attempts to exploit that, to target and attack innocent people who are simply trying to live, work and raise their families here."

She adds that racism, intimidation and violence are wrong wherever they occur.

"There can be no excuse and no justification for these attacks tonight. No one wants to see this on our streets and I again appeal for calm."

Trouble has flared primarily at the Crumlin Road, to the north of the city, and on and around the Lower Newtownards Road in the east.

Richard Morgan
BBC News NI

Image source, PA

Multiple homes are on fire across Belfast, with the fire service dealing with blazes at several residences just off the Crumlin Road, while there have also been fires at homes on Lendrick Street in east Belfast.

At Crumlin Road in north Belfast, there is a significant emergency response from police, fire and ambulance services.

One residence just off the Crumlin Road, on Oakley Street, is on fire as are two vehicles in front of it.

Windows of one property on the Crumlin Road have been smashed. Four ambulances are also present.

Protests have also been reported in other parts of the UK, following Monday's knife attack in Belfast.

Protesters gathered in Glasgow city centre and St Andrew's Square in Edinburgh.

In Southampton, police were deployed after demonstrators gathered outside the Highfield House Hotel, the PA news agency reported.

Kelly Bonner
BBC News NI

This house on fire on Lendrick Street in east Belfast belongs to a man in his 30s, who says he's lived there for 10 years.

"Cars were set alight on the road, which caught fire to my house but masked men were bashing down doors," he says.

Image source, PA

North Belfast MP, Sinn Féin's John Finucane said: "There is understandable disgust and revulsion at the horrific attempted murder that took place last night. I share that revulsion.

"But the scenes we are witnessing tonight, family homes attacked, cars burnt, damaged infrastructure and parts of our community in flames, are shameful and disgraceful.

"No one has the right to spread fear, terrorise innocent families or unleash lawless disorder on our streets."

He says the focus "must remain on supporting the victim".

"The actions of those who are destroying their own communities are totally unacceptable.

"It is clear that the horrendous attack last night is being used to whip up fear, division and hatred. That must be called out."

Image source, PA Media

A police car has been set on fire in Portadown, with independent assembly member Doug Beattie describing the incident, which happened outside his constituency office, as "disheartening".

He says there is "understandable concern" amongst communities after the knife attack in north Belfast last night, but "taking this out on the police or innocent members of the public is counter-productive and must be condemned".

"I hope the police officers are safe after this ordeal and I would ask all those demonstrating to do so peacefully."

Richard Morgan
BBC News NI

There are multiple fires burning on Crumlin Road towards west Belfast, including bins placed in the middle of the road.

Thick black smokes fills the air, as masked individuals add more material to keep the fires going.

The fire service is responding as the police monitor the scene.

Image source, PA Media

More reaction now from politicians in Northern Ireland, with Health Minister Mike Nesbitt, from the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), posting on social media saying: "I deplore these acts of violence, apparently staged in protest against a deplorable and inhuman act of knife violence last night.

"What do people want this to achieve? Where do they want it to end?"

Image source, PA Media

Education Minister Paul Given from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) says any violence at anti-immigration demonstrations will “distract” from protesters’ message.

Givan attended a protest in Lisburn on Tuesday evening, which followed Monday night’s knife attack in Belfast.

“There is a genuine shock about what happened last night. I think it has sent shockwaves across the community," he says.

"What we have witnessed here in Lisburn has been a peaceful protest because people have felt that their voices aren’t being listened to, particularly when it comes to uncontrolled immigration within the United Kingdom and on the island of Ireland."

He adds that people "should express their views in a peaceful manner".

Northern Ireland Justice Minister Naomi Long says those who are carrying out violent acts are "weaponising genuine hurt, concern and anger" that people are feeling.

Long said it is "simply disingenuous" to claim this is being carried out for the good of Northern Ireland.

“There is no place for masked thugs to take to the streets and threaten, intimidate, disrupt and cause wanton damage

She appealed 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," she said.

"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.”

We're starting to get some political reaction to the trouble on the streets in Northern Ireland tonight.

First up, Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly has appealed for protesters to “act in an entirely peaceful way”.

“I know all are horrified about what has happened. I know so many are angry and there are those who want to register a protest,” she says, referring to last night's knife attack.

But she says violence does not “advance any cause, it damages it".

“Destroying things within your own community benefits no one. Taking frustration at the evil actions of a person out on those who had no part in it is utterly wrong,” the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) minister says.

Image source, PA Media

She urged parents to contact their children if they are out on the streets.

“There will inevitably be arrests for violence, those engaging in disorder will be recorded and follow up arrests and prosecutions will follow,” the deputy first minister says.

That, she adds, will be “life-changing for young people - get them home and away from danger if you can".

Kelly Bonner
BBC News NI

A car on fire on Lendrick Street, off the Newtownards Road where there has been disorder tonight, exploded a moment ago - there's about 80 masked men in attendance.

Dan Johnson
BBC News

What is left of the bus is still burning, but it’s almost totally destroyed.

And more large commercial bins have been set alight here in the middle of the Newtownards Road, which is still blocked with smoke rising into the sky.

More firefighters have arrived but they’re holding back for now, letting the fires burn rather than approaching the crowd of masked youngsters.

The police are also staying back. We’ve just seen a convoy of four armoured police land rovers racing down Newtownards Road but they turned off to head elsewhere because we’ve heard there are other pockets of disorder across Belfast and elsewhere in Northern Ireland.

Richard Morgan
BBC News NI

The fire service has arrived in an attempt to extinguish multiple blazes here on the Crumlin Road towards west Belfast.

The PSNI is using one of its vehicles to protect the fire engine.

From where I am standing, I can hear debris being thrown at the PSNI land rover.

We’ve just had an update from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) who have appealed for calm following "sporadic pockets of disorder".

It comes after a 30-year-old man, who the police have said is Sudanese, was charged with attempted murder after a knife attack in north Belfast on Monday night.

Here’s what has happened so far this evening:

• Protestors gathered in a number of areas across Northern Ireland - some have been peaceful protests but disorder has broken out in some locations

• A bus has been set on fire on the Newtownards Road, with bins set alight in the middle of the road as more than 100 people, some masked, gathered in the area

• Northern Ireland's public transport operator Translink has suspended all services operating in and out of Belfast
• A PSNI land rover was also attacked on the Crumlin Road towards the west of the city
• Cars have been set alight on a roundabout in Newtownabbey, while there have also been protests in Antrim, Ballymena and Bangor. In Whiteabbey, a house has been targeted by stonethrowers

Keiron Tourish
BBC News NI north west reporter

There’s been some traffic disruption in Derry where protestors blocked the main A6 road between the city and Belfast for a time this evening.

Police set up road blocks and diverted traffic into the village of Drumahoe. At one point there was a lengthy build-up of traffic on the main A6.