ALT The knife attack in Belfast on Monday was truly horrific. My thoughts are with Stephen Ogilvy and his family, who deserve justice. Targeting and terrorising innocent people because of the colour of their skin, including setting fire to their homes, has nothing to do with justice or a desire to keep communities safe, however. It is racist mob violence, which has been organised, enabled and whipped up by those seeking to profit politically and financially from hatred, fear and disorder. Social media platforms who give money and reach to these individuals to promote their hate need to be held to account. They cannot be allowed to continue pouring petrol on the flames. The disgraceful violence is a direct consequence of the normalisation of vile, racist rhetoric across the UK, which needs to be challenged far more robustly in our political discourse. I welcome the steps the Prime Minister has taken to work with police and the First Minister of Northern Ireland.
