Police have released images of people they want to speak to in relation to recent violence against ethnic minorities and attacks on officers in Belfast.
The PSNI said by releasing the images they are “hopeful that the wider community will help us identify these individuals”. One of the men has since been identified, according to police.
PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher also warned that anyone engaging in further disorder will be “pursued with the full force of the law”.
More: Belfast city centre protests on Friday: what we know so far
It comes as a “significant” police operation is expected to take place in central Belfast on Friday as far-right and anti-racism protesters take to the street at the same time.
Concerns over the potential for violence have continued to build as far-right activists and a race-hate opponents are set to face off in the city centre during rush hour.
Businesses in the city centre have yet to decide whether to close but say they are monitoring the situation.
The PSNI chief was speaking after almost a week of nightly disorder across Belfast following on from an anti-immigration rally in Belfast last weekend.
He slammed the “lies, misinformation and absolute nonsense spread online” following the murder of three girls in Southport, saying it led to the scenes of widespread disorder across the UK and questioned if those involved even knew the names of the girls who were killed.
In a direct message to those behind the disorder, Mr Boutcher urged them to stop, consider what they’re doing, and be aware they will be pursued if they break the law.
Police have come under sustained attack, a police vehicle doused with petrol and set alight, officers injured as well as members of the public attacked in suspected hate incidents and two businesses owned by people from a minority ethnic background have been destroyed in south Belfast.
There have also been incidents in north, east, west Belfast and Co Antrim. There was fresh trouble in east Belfast on Thursday evening.
Alliance Lord Mayor of Belfast Micky Murray last night urged people planning to attend Friday’s far-right demonstration to instead stay at home.
“The recent rioting we have seen across Belfast has been deeply disturbing and is instilling fear into many across our city,” he said.
“I urge those planning to attend tomorrow’s demonstration to stay home.
“I hope that we have now witnessed the end of the violence on our streets.”
Friday’s protests come after a week of violence during which far-right mobs have attacked members of the ethnic minority community, their homes and business across Belfast and beyond.
Hundreds of people are expected to gather outside city hall at 4.30pm to oppose a far-right protest organised for the same location 30 minutes later.
Trouble flared after a similar event last week when a breakaway crowd attacked property and businesses in the south of the city.
Violence has also flared in other loyalist parts of Belfast throughout this week.
On Monday a man in his 50s was injured after a mob stamped on his head in the Donegall Road and Oban Street area of the city
Police have said they will have a “significant policing operation in place”.
Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones has confirmed that the PSNI has requested the support of ‘mutual aid’ officers to help with this Friday’s policing operation.
It is understood 120 officers have been requested from Police Scotland.
“Any officers who may come to Northern Ireland would specifically assist with the ongoing public disorder and protests and not everyday policing,” Ms Jones said.
She added that as a result of the violence and disorder of recent days police have “taken a decision to significantly mobilise the service”.
“Increasing our resources and footprint across Northern Ireland in the coming days will enable us to manage planned events and deal with any sporadic incidents, including disorder,” she said.
On Thursday, the PSNI released images of six men they want to speak to in relation to “a number of incidents of disorder and attacks on police officers” in Belfast since August 3.
Assistant chief constable Davy Beck said: “Over the course of a number of days, there were a number of people who were intent on causing incidents of disorder and attacking property, the public and police officers.
“We remain committed to identifying those involved in a range of incidents across Belfast since the weekend and we will be relentless in our pursuit in order to bring these offenders before the courts.”
He added: “By releasing these images I am hopeful that the wider community will help us identify these individuals.
“I also encourage the persons within these pictures to contact police directly. In doing so they will minimise the impact on themselves, their family and their community.”
A series of arrests have been carried out by police, who have faced criticism for their handling of the far-right protests and violence.
To date 17 men and boys have been arrested, with 11 being charged.
The most recent round-up includes the arrest of five men after bins were set on fire blocking Connswater Street in east Belfast on Wednesday.
Police say “items” were also thrown and that one officer was injured while an arrest was made.
Police say officers also dealt with “incidents such as assaults, criminal damage and arson” on Wednesday.
Ms Jones said officers from the PSNI’s Public Order Enquiry Team are “continuing to review footage to attempt to identify those involved, as well as those organising and orchestrating this disorder”.
It has also emerged that a 16-year-old has been arrested in west Belfast by police investigating a report of a race hate-related incident on the Falls Road on Tuesday, during which a 15-year-old was assaulted.
He was released on bail to allow further enquiries.
Meanwhile, a counter-protest has been organised for Dales Corner, in the mainly unionist Limavady Road area of Derry on Friday evening.
A social media message highlighting that protest, which includes an Irish tricolour and Union flag, calls on all “right minded people to from all race (sic), creed and colour” to attend between 5pm-7pm.
The counter protest, which will take place at 4.30pm has been billed as “a city united against racism” and calls for “no to hate” and ‘no to division”.
Campaign group United Against Racism Belfast has also organised a ‘Belfast Welcomes Diversity Demo’, which will assemble at Writer’s Square in Belfast at noon on Saturday.
