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Anti-immigration protest and counter rally gather at city hall

Eve Rosato
BBC News NI
BBC Two groups, each holding flags, are shown. BBC
An anti-immigration protest, left, and, right, a counter protest

Protests involving hundreds of people have taken place at Belfast City Hall.

On Sunday afternoon two protests took place - one an anti-immigration protest and the other, a counter protest against racism.

The smaller group were those protesting what they called "mass migration".

The larger group consisted of trade unions, Amnesty International and local political and community groups. They told the crowd that 112 groups were taking part in their demonstrations. They had flags saying "refugees welcome".

Pacemaker Hundreds of people hold up flags and signs to protest against a mass migration demonstration. They stand on a footpath beside a road. Some of them wear Hi-Viz vests. Signs saying 'people before profit' 'SDLP' and pride flags can be seen, as well as NIPSA flags. Pacemaker
A series of speakers addressed the trade union gathering

A 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of disorderly behaviour and criminal damage and remains in custody, police said.

Traffic around the city centre was disrupted for a time during the rallies.

Pacemaker A woman holding a sign that reads No racism + Islamophobia in Ireland, she is wearing a black baseball cap with the Palestine flag on itPacemaker
About 112 groups were taking part in the protest against racism

There was a sizeable police presence with many uniformed officers and land rovers parked in front of the city hall.

There were some flags being flown, including a Union flag, an Irish tricolour and a flag depicting the provinces of Ireland.

Pacemaker Six men hold up three flags in front of a large crowd of people. The flags, going from left to right, are an Irish tricolour, that off the 4 provinces of Ireland and a red, white and blue union jackPacemaker
The smaller of the two groups was on one side of the city hall
Pacemaker Police office in foreground, standing facing a large crowd of protesters holding colourful trade union and pride flags, on Donegall Square in Belfast with large buildings in background.Pacemaker
There was a sizeable police presence in the city centre on Sunday afternoon

A series of speakers addressed the trade union gathering.