A series of riots in loyalist areas of Northern Ireland began in Waterside, Derry, on 30 March 2021. After four nights of rioting in loyalist areas of Derry, disturbances spread to south Belfast on 2 April. A loyalist protest developed into a riot involving iron bars, bricks and bombs. Following this, civil unrest spread to Newtownabbey on 3 April, where cars were hijacked and burnt, and petrol bombs were also used against police. 