Christian leaders have condemned the violence that erupted in Northern Ireland following a knife attack in Belfast which left a man seriously injured.
A 30-year-old Sudanese man is due to appear in court charged with attempted murder, possession of a bladed article in a public place and making threats to kill. The victim, a man in his 40s, remains in hospital with serious injuries.
The stabbing on Monday was followed by anti-immigration demonstrations across Northern Ireland on Tuesday evening, with some protests descending into disorder.
Several homes and vehicles were set alight, a Glider bus was burned in east Belfast, and some residents were forced to flee their homes.
In response to the unrest, Christian leaders have urged calm and condemned both the original attack and the violence that followed.
In a statement, the Methodist Church in Ireland said its prayers were with all those affected.
"The thoughts and prayers of the Methodist people in Ireland are with the victim, his family, and those affected by or who witnessed this traumatic incident."
The denomination urged people to allow the Police Service of Northern Ireland to continue its investigation and warned against actions that could further inflame tensions.
"We urge everyone to act with calmness and responsibility and to allow the PSNI to continue their investigation. We strongly condemn any attempt to inflame tensions, spread misinformation or sow division in our communities."
The church also called on community leaders to help create opportunities for constructive dialogue.
"Rather, we encourage community leadership at all levels to help calm any tensions and provide forums in which genuine concerns can be expressed. Events like this can heighten anxiety and fear for minority groups who are an integral part of our communities. Every human being is made in God's image and we continue to pray for a society in which everyone feels safe."
The impact of the unrest was felt by members of local churches. In a Facebook post on Tuesday night, Pastor Jack McKee of New Life City Church in Belfast described helping two women from his congregation whose home had come under attack.
He said one church member's house had its windows smashed and was targeted in an attempted arson attack, while a neighbouring property was left burning.
McKee said he and his daughter went to the scene to check on church members and found two women, both care workers and members of his congregation, trapped inside and terrified.
After speaking with a group of young men gathered outside, he was able to safely evacuate the women with the assistance of police and firefighters.
The pastor's account was later referenced by Christian Northern Ireland Justice Minister Naomi Long, who condemned the unrest and accused far-right activists online of exploiting the stabbing to stir racial tensions.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Long said "bad faith actors" from the UK and abroad had sought to "weaponise the pain and anguish of an injured man and a frightened community".
"We saw the rush to social media yesterday from commentators on the far-right who were clearly trying to stoke racial tension, building on a narrative that they have around immigration," she said.
Long also backed McKee's claim that some people were being targeted simply because they were black.
She argued that some rioters were using the nationality of the accused to justify attacks on others based on the colour of their skin.
"That is the absolute definition of racism," she said.
Meanwhile, Bishop David McClay of the Church of Ireland said the "violent scenes on the streets of east Belfast last night should be condemned by all right-thinking people".
"Those who choose to damage local communities, putting people of all ages at risk and especially the most vulnerable, do not speak for the majority in our society," he said.
Bishop David also condemned the original stabbing, describing it as a "horrific attack", and added that he was praying for the victim's recovery.
DUP MP Jim Shannon told Premier Christian Radio the scenes of violence had been "shocking and worrying", while acknowledging that many people have genuine concerns about immigration that should be addressed peacefully.
He also warned against political extremists seeking to exploit tensions.
"There's a rise of the right, there's a rise of the left, but one is equally dangerous as the other," he said. "I want a society where we can all live together, where we can appreciate each other and won't be influenced by the colour of their skin."
He called on believers to be peacemakers and people of prayer.
"We've got to ask God for guidance. We've got to ask God for wisdom. We need to pray.”
Shannon added: "God wants us to be respectful to others. If we walk in the footsteps of Jesus and do those things, then I think we will have a better society."
Police have said there is currently no indication that the stabbing was terror-related, and investigations remain ongoing.
