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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Rory Carroll Ireland correspondent

How the Belfast stabbing was the spark to a fuse loaded with grievance and provocation

A group of protesters in front of a fire in the street, with dark clothes and covered faces
The sight of men and boys with dark clothing and covered faces posing as defenders of their communities echoed the Troubles. Photograph: Paul Faith/AFP/Getty Images

Within minutes of the footage going online – of a Black man stabbing a white man – there was a sense of inexorability to what came next in Northern Ireland.

The grievances, the social media platforms, the politicians’ doublespeak and the international cheerleaders all provided a fuse. On Monday night came the spark.

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