Serious public disorder was reported in several parts of Northern Ireland on Thursday evening after protests linked to migration and government policy escalated into violent incidents, prompting a large emergency response and the temporary disruption of health services.

Police and health authorities confirmed that a number of incidents occurred in the vicinity of hospital and healthcare facilities, including damage to property and small fires near buildings. As a precaution, some patients and staff were moved away from affected areas while emergency services worked to secure the sites.

Health officials said that a number of facilities were forced to suspend normal operations for a period of time, and several thousand patients across the region experienced delays to appointments and treatment. In a limited number of locations, patients were briefly relocated outside buildings while safety checks were carried out.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said crews were placed under significant pressure as multiple incidents were reported within a short timeframe. Fire and rescue services were also deployed to deal with blazes and damaged structures.

A senior PSNI officer said that the disturbances appeared to be linked to wider protests over migration and asylum policy, but stressed that investigations are ongoing and that it would be inappropriate to draw conclusions about responsibility while inquiries continue.

“We are treating attacks on healthcare facilities and any actions that place patients or staff at risk with the utmost seriousness,” the officer said.

The Department of Health in Northern Ireland confirmed that patient safety remains the highest priority and that contingency plans were activated to ensure essential care continued wherever possible. Hospital managers are now assessing the scale of the disruption and any damage to buildings.

Political leaders from across parties condemned the violence, saying hospitals and medical workers must never become targets during public protests. They urged people to express their concerns through peaceful and lawful means.