19 ARRESTED AFTER TWO NIGHTS OF RIOTING IN NORTHERN IRELAND

Police arrested 19 people, including a 16-year-old boy, following two nights of rioting in Northern Ireland after a knife attack earlier in the week. Demonstrations were organised in response to the attack, which was recorded in a graphic video. Masked individuals burned vehicles and houses and blocked roads on Tuesday. On Wednesday, police deployed plastic bullets and water cannon against crowds who, according to police, attacked officers with rocks and petrol bombs.

A committee of MPs raised concerns on Friday about misinformation spread online and through messaging apps in connection with the disorder. Chi Onwurah, chair of the science, innovation and technology committee, stated the government had not done enough to address the scale and speed of algorithmic amplification of misinformation online. Onwurah's letter to technology secretary Liz Kendall raised concerns that social media algorithms had amplified misleading content during previous incidents of unrest in Southport. The committee warned the Online Safety Act contained regulatory gaps and called for social media companies to address viral algorithmic amplification of content during periods of civil unrest.

The Police Service for Northern Ireland reported Thursday night saw significantly fewer disturbances compared with the previous two nights. Both the PSNI and Police Scotland appealed for calm ahead of demonstrations planned in Belfast and Glasgow. Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson stated the situation had been calmer than observed in recent days.