Police have said a business had been set on fire in the Donegall Road area of south Belfast amid disorder linked to earlier anti-immigrant protests in the city.
The public was advised to avoid the Donegall Road and Sandy Row areas.
A number of businesses had been attacked earlier in Belfast as an anti-immigration protest made its way through the University area of the city.
After an hour of tense exchanges across lines of police in riot gear, the anti-immigrant group moved off in an illegal parade towards the south of the city, an area where there are a number of mosques.
On the way several business were attacked, including a café and a number of hotels.
One business owner, Rahmi Akyol, whose café was damaged said he couldn't understand why he and others had not been afforded any protection.
Mr Akyol said his staff and customers had to take refuge inside as the crowd attacked his café.
Windows were smashed and furniture thrown into the business.
Mr Akyol said he'd lived in Belfast for decades and been in business there for a number of years.
He said the main question was why police had not been accompanying the crowd and why his premises was not offered any protection.
Windows in a number of nearby hotels were also smashed.
The area provides accommodation and other services to those seeking international protection.
Police say they are continuing to deal with sporadic disorder following today's anti-immigrant protests.
Two arrests were made and several businesses attacked. Police say they are treating those offences as hate crimes.
Northern Secretary Hillary Benn criticised those involved in disorder.
"Shame on those involved in violent disorder in Belfast today," he said, adding that "hatred has no place in our society."
Mr Benn praised the police force for their actions amid the demonstrations in the city.
"I commend the officers of the PSNI for everything they have done to keep people safe."
There has been criticism of how the anti-immigrant march was allowed to move through the city.
At one point a group of nationalist residents from the Lower Ormeau road came out to confront the far-right grouping and there was a tense standoff during which police had to intervene.
Police and church appeals for a rethink fell on deaf ears and around lunchtime several hundred people gathered.
The anti-immigrant protest had been organised online, with calls for people to congregate at Belfast City Hall and to block roads across the city.
It was meant to be part of a series of demos across the UK in response to the murder of three children in Southport.
Sinn Féin MLA Deidre Harvey said they had warned about the potential disorder and questions would now be asked about how the situation had been handled.
Police were involved in a stand-off in the University area with a group of protesters. There are a number of mosques in the area.
Earlier, hundreds of people turned up for an anti-racist counter-protest in the heart of the city centre after social media calls for an anti-immigration demonstration in the city in the wake of the murders of three young children in Southport.
The two groups exchanged insults and a small number of fireworks and other missiles have been thrown amid tense exchanges in front of the City Hall.
One woman was injured amongst the counter-protesters when a firework exploded next to her.
Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Land Rovers and officers in riot gear were separating the two groups.
Officers were seen arresting one man, who was taken away in a PSNI car.
There were speeches and anti-Nazi chanting at the rally, which featured trade union banners and Palestinian flags.
Some other pix and video from Belfast pic.twitter.com/xpGjzvC0JV
— conor macauley (@TVconormac) August 3, 2024
Shortly after the rally began, a number of anti-Islamic protesters gathered across the road.
The group chanted "Islam out" and unfurled union flags.
There were also Irish tricolours at the anti-Islamic protest as a group from Coolock, the scene of anti-immigrant protests in Dublin, arrived.
The stand-off between the two opposing groups became heated and police moved in to separate them.
Meanwhile, a number of roads into Belfast have been closed "due to ongoing protest activity", police said.
The PSNI said it is "aware of several planned protests across Northern Ireland today and will be in attendance to ensure the safety of everyone involved".
