Sir Keir Starmer has condemned violence on Belfast’s streets as “shocking and “completely unacceptable” as he vowed to bring the “full force of the law” on those behind the protests.

Homes and cars were set alight across the city on Tuesday evening after hundreds of protesters took to the streets in response to Monday night’s stabbing attack.

Residents had to be removed from burning houses in east Belfast as a crowd kicked in doors and broke windows of homes nearby, according to the BBC.

Prior to the protests, police said a man, 30, who is Sudanese, had been charged with attempted murder over the stabbing attack.

He is due to appear at Belfast Magistrates’ Court later on Wednesday.

Despite calls for calm from police and political leaders, anti-immigration demonstrations in Belfast turned violent on Tuesday night.

A Glider bus was set alight in east Belfast, prompting all bus and train services to be suspended. In Lendrick Street in Belfast, several cars were set alight and Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service officers had to remove some residents from houses after they caught fire.

Northern Ireland secretary Hillary Benn condemned “thuggery” that he said was “putting innocent lives at risk”.