More Northern Ireland fuel protests planned for later this month as rallies promoted by anti-immigration protesters
More fuel protests look set to take place in Northern Ireland later this month as posters advertising the rallies are heavily promoted by an anti-immigration network.Convoys of tractors and other vehicles took to a number of main arterial routes across the north on Tuesday in protest at rising fuel costs sparked by the war in Iran.A number of fines were handed out by the PSNI in response to those participating in the protests, however the widespread disruption which had been anticipated did not materialise.However, by Tuesday evening, plans for another fuel protest were circulating on social media for April 24 at a number of locations, including at Belfast International Airport.No individual or group has yet taken responsibility for the organisation of the protests in the north, with several farmers involved in the protests reported as saying they were unaware who had organised the events.However, one of the first images featuring an AI-generated graphic advertising the protests later this month was shared by a social media account with links to anti-immigration and loyalist flag protests.The Official Protestant Coalition account shared the graphic calling on HGV drivers and hauliers to take part in the fuel protest, which it said would “last all weekend” and urged people to “bring plenty of clothes and food”.In September, the same group scrapped plans to block airports in the north as part of anti-immigration protests. One group of farmers has distanced themselves from the April 24 event and dismissed any anti-immigration sentiment within the fuel protests.Coleraine farmer William Taylor of Farmers for Action says he and others will be joining a UK-wide protest later this month if governments in Stormont and Westminster don’t act on rising fuel costs.“We wrote to the Chancellor on Monday and we are asking them to meet us on Monday, we have the solutions if they would meet us and talk to us,” Mr Taylor said.“We have to give them 14 days to reply, and by the time two weeks passes we will have a picture of whether the government is going to play ball with us.“If they don’t play ball, we will be set for a protest. It will be different than what you are seeing at the minute, because we have to do it in such a way that we bring the people with us. “What went on yesterday was purely farmers at the end of their tether.“We say to all those who are going out to protest of their own accord, to please contact police to make it clear to them what you are doing, and do it in a safe manner that’s not going to obstruct anybody.”Mr Taylor said he had tried to find out who had organised Tuesday’s protest, but was unable to do so.“We’ve been watching this since last weekend, there was this up on social media, there was that up on social media. We could never get a handle on it.”Asked whether he believes there is any anti-immigration element to the protests, Mr Taylor said: “That is definitely not true.”“Farmers are just talking among themselves. There ain’t no far right involved with farmers.“Those far right boys are always at things like that, we pay no attention to them. We have an agenda and we’re sticking to it.“They have no influence on what we are doing, or anything to do with us.”A PSNI spokesperson said it was aware of further protests being planned and said preparations were underway to minimise disruption to the public.“Police are aware of posters online calling for protests at various locations across Northern Ireland on 24 April,” the spokesperson said.“Preparations for a policing response are underway to ensure public safety and to help minimise any potential disruption to the wider community.”
